Doohan not giving up on F1 thanks to Haas ‘platform’

Jack Doohan is refusing to let his Formula 1 dream fade, clinging instead to a renewed sense of purpose after being handed a valuable second chance with Haas F1 Team – a foothold he believes can guide him back onto the grid he is determined not to leave behind for long.

After a bruising winter that saw his ties with Alpine formally severed and a planned switch to Japan collapse at the eleventh hour, Doohan’s career briefly appeared to be drifting into uncertainty.

Many months spent largely on the sidelines could have dimmed his momentum. Instead, it seems to have strengthened his resolve.

Arriving in Bahrain for pre-season running, the Australian carried the demeanour of a driver beginning again rather than starting over – upbeat, focused, and quietly confident that his story in Formula 1 is not finished.

A Platform, Not a Parking Spot

While his new role does not yet place him directly into a race cockpit, Doohan views the opportunity as a springboard rather than a sideline.

“My goal is to be in Formula 1, to race in Formula 1,” the Aussie told reporters in Bahrain this week. “And I’ve been given that platform to have a go at with Haas. So I look forward to trying to do that.”

The emphasis on “platform” reveals intent. For Doohan, this is not about maintaining relevance – it is about building momentum. Access to the team environment, the data streams, and the day-to-day mechanics of a Formula 1 operation keeps him connected to the sport’s heartbeat.

Patience With Purpose

Optimism, however, is paired with realism. Doohan understands that timing and team priorities will shape his path back to a full-time seat, and he shows no interest in forcing the issue prematurely.

“From my position, it’s my second day with the team, so I’m not going up and grabbing the guys by the collar and saying, ‘hey, put me in the car’,” he said.

What follows is not frustration but perspective — a recognition that progress often comes from supporting the bigger picture first.

“This probably sounds strange, but to complete clarity, it’s the most important time for the team and for everyone to prioritise solely on the drivers, on the cars, new regulation, not focussing on anything else externally, and that being any other driver, even though that might be in contrast to what you might think.

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“It’s important that the team gets in the most strong and effective, reliable place possible with this new regulation and focus solely on that to ensure that they can be as strong as possible come 2027.”

His words reflect a maturity shaped by setbacks – an understanding that staying embedded within a competitive structure can be just as crucial as immediate seat time.

Racing On, Wherever the Road Leads

Doohan’s determination is not limited to waiting in the wings. He intends to keep racing in any form that sharpens his edge and sustains visibility within the motorsport world.

“I was testing the last two days in an LMP2 car on Monday and Tuesday,” he revealed.

“With the way things panned out and only being able to really join quite late in the year of January, it hasn’t obviously revealed too many options for racing plans, but potentially in an ELMS, in an LMP2 car to do Le Mans.

“Whatever is going to fit best while also spending as much time as I can be here.”

That dual pathway – endurance racing for momentum, Formula 1 for destiny – defines the next chapter of his journey. It is not a retreat, but a recalibration.

For Jack Doohan, hope is neither naive nor abstract. It is grounded in access, preparation, and persistence.

With Haas providing the doorway and alternative racing programs keeping him sharp, his trajectory feels less like a recovery and more like a rebuild – the steady, deliberate climb of a driver convinced that the grid he once stepped away from is still very much within reach.

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