

Mick Doohan has criticised Alpine for what he described as unfair treatment of his son, Jack Doohan, following the young Australianâs brief stint with the team at the start of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Jack Doohan was called up by Alpine at the end of 2024 and made his Formula 1 debut at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He was retained for the opening rounds of the following campaign, but his position quickly became uncertain after Alpine signed Franco Colapinto as a reserve driver ahead of the new season.
Just six rounds into the 2025 campaign, Alpine announced a driver swap that saw Doohan demoted to a reserve role. He ultimately left the team at the start of 2026, bringing a short and turbulent chapter with the Enstone-based squad to a close.
Reflecting on the situation, Mick Doohan expressed his frustration in an interview with Marca, suggesting the outcome had been inevitable from the outset.
âI really can't comment on that, but I think it was unfair,â he said. âIt was from the start. They replaced a driver before the season even began. And, basically, that was it.â
He also pointed to his sonâs contractual position and status within Alpineâs junior programme, implying that expectations had shifted without explanation.
âMy son had a long-term contract; he was Alpine's first junior driver to arrive. It was clear, for reasons I can't say, that a different direction was taken,â Doohan added. âAnd that's all there is to it.â

Despite the disappointment, Mick Doohan stressed that his son has remained resilient and focused on racing. Jack Doohan is currently competing in Barcelona in the European Le Mans Series, continuing his career away from the F1 grid for now.
Shortly after his departure from Alpine, Haas confirmed it had secured the services of the 23-year-old as a reserve driver. Mick Doohan made clear that a full-time return to Formula 1 remains the ultimate goal, while also taking a final swipe at Alpineâs approach.
âHe's with Haas F1 now, as a reserve driver, looking to secure a seat and with a team that's more committed to contracts,â he said.

Heâs a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.
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