Jack Doohan's Haas reserve role: how Toyota's F1 return could salvage the Australian's dreams

Jack Doohan's Formula 1 future appeared bleak just weeks ago, but Toyota's expanded partnership with Haas has opened an unexpected lifeline for the Australian driver. After a tumultuous maiden season saw him displaced from Alpine after just six races, Doohan is now positioned to return to the F1 paddock as a reserve driver for the Haas team in 2026, marking a crucial turning point in his career trajectory.

The brutal reality of Doohan's 2025 campaign

Doohan's introduction to Formula 1 began promisingly enough, securing a full-time race seat with Alpine for the 2025 season following his debut at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. However, the Australian's maiden campaign unraveled rapidly. Struggling to adapt to F1's unforgiving demands, Doohan failed to score a point across his opening six races, ultimately leading to his replacement by Franco Colapinto ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in May.

The decision effectively sidelined Doohan from race-seat competition, relegating him to reserve driver duties for the remainder of Alpine's 2025 campaign. For a young driver with championship aspirations, this mid-season axe represented a significant professional setback, leaving many observers questioning whether his F1 window was already closing.

The Toyota connection: opening doors

The pathway to redemption, however, emerged through an unexpected corridor: Toyota's deepening involvement with Haas. Toyota returned to Formula 1 in October 2024 as a technical partner to Haas, a relationship that has now expanded dramatically for the 2026 season. Under the new arrangement, Haas will compete as TGR (Toyota Gazoo Racing) Haas F1 Team, establishing a strategic alliance that extends beyond technical collaboration.

With Doohan expected to compete in Super Formula with Kondo Racing—a team supported by Toyota—the Japanese manufacturer's motorsport ecosystem has created a natural pathway for the Australian to maintain his F1 presence. Team principal Ayao Komatsu has been firm in preventing Toyota from influencing Haas' driver lineup decisions, but a reserve driver arrangement serves all parties strategically.

A reserve role with championship ambitions

Doohan will combine his Super Formula activities with a reserve driver position at Haas for 2026, supporting race drivers Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon. This dual commitment provides critical infrastructure for his F1 ambitions while allowing competitive racing experience in Japan's premier domestic series.

The 22-year-old's stint in Super Formula has not begun auspiciously. During a post-season test at Suzuka in December 2025, Doohan encountered substantial difficulties navigating the circuit's notoriously challenging Degner corners. The Australian crashed three consecutive times at Degner 1 across the three-day test, with initial incidents involving rear-end collisions and subsequent runs seeing both frontal impacts and gravel excursions.

However, these setbacks may be less concerning than initial appearances suggest. Extended setup experimentation during testing likely contributed to Doohan's repeated incidents, a common occurrence during developmental evaluations.

The 2027 timeline: a critical year

For Doohan, the reserve role represents strategic positioning for a more significant 2027 comeback attempt. Still only 22, he retains sufficient career runway to establish himself as a legitimate F1 prospect, provided he demonstrates championship-caliber performances in Super Formula. Success in Japan's domestic series—similar to Liam Lawson's 2023 title that accelerated his F1 ascension—could substantively strengthen his case for a full-time race seat return.

The cryptic social media post bidding farewell to Alpine signals his formal departure from the Enstone-based organization, though no official announcement had been released as of early January 2026. By positioning himself within the Toyota-Haas ecosystem for 2026, Doohan has effectively kept his F1 dreams alive during a transitional year that will prove absolutely decisive for his long-term paddock prospects.