Formula 1 is a meat grinder. It doesn’t care about your last name or how many hours you spent in the simulator. Jack Doohan found that out the hard way.
By the time the F1 circus rolled into Suzuka for the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix, the Australian rookie was already walking a tightrope. Most fans saw a young driver trying to find his feet. The people inside the Alpine garage, specifically a returning Flavio Briatore, saw something else: an opportunity for change.
The Disaster at Suzuka: Jack Doohan Japanese Grand Prix Meltdown
Honestly, the weekend was a mess from the jump. Suzuka is arguably the most demanding circuit on the calendar. It’s high-speed, technical, and leaves zero room for error. For a rookie like Doohan, who was already feeling the heat from reserve driver Franco Colapinto, it was the worst place to have a technical "brain fade."
During the first practice session (FP1) of the Japanese Grand Prix, Doohan made a mistake that basically sealed his fate. He failed to close his DRS (Drag Reduction System) heading into the iconic, high-speed Turn 1. You can't do that at Suzuka. The car lost all rear stability, snapped, and slammed into the barriers.
It was a heavy hit. More importantly, it was an expensive hit for a team already struggling with a car—the A525—that was proving to be a difficult beast to tame. While his teammate Pierre Gasly was salvaging decent qualifying positions, Doohan was literally rebuilding his confidence from a pile of carbon fiber.
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He eventually finished the race in 15th place. No points. No glory. Just a lot of questions about whether he was actually ready for the big time.
The Briatore Shadow and the "Rotation"
You’ve got to feel for the guy. Doohan wasn't just fighting the track; he was fighting a narrative. Before the season even started, Alpine’s executive advisor Flavio Briatore had been making ominous comments to the press. He told Le Parisien that "you can't be emotional in F1" and that if a driver isn't bringing results, he gets changed.
Talk about a vote of confidence, right?
When Oliver Oakes resigned as Team Principal and Briatore took a more central role, the writing was on the wall. Alpine had signed Franco Colapinto as a reserve, and the Argentine brought two things Doohan didn't have: massive financial backing and a fresh wave of momentum from his 2024 Williams cameo.
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Breaking Down the Alpine Exit
It didn't take long. After a first-lap collision with Liam Lawson at the Miami Grand Prix, Alpine had seen enough. They called it a "rotation." They said Colapinto would get five races to show what he could do.
But we all knew what that meant.
In January 2026, the hammer finally dropped. Alpine and Jack Doohan officially reached a "mutual agreement" to part ways. It was the end of a four-year journey that saw him go from the Alpine Academy to a full-time seat, only to be sidelined after just six races in 2025.
Was Doohan actually that bad?
Looking at the numbers, it's easy to be harsh.
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- Best Finish: 13th (China)
- Points: 0
- Qualifying: Outqualified Gasly only once in six attempts.
- Average Gap: Roughly 0.367 seconds behind Gasly.
But let's be real. The 2025 Alpine was a tractor for the first half of the season. It was inconsistent and lacked downforce. Dropping a rookie into that environment—especially one with a hungry reserve driver breathing down his neck—is a recipe for a confidence crisis. Esteban Ocon, who Doohan replaced, actually defended the Aussie, saying the environment wasn't exactly "nurturing."
Where does Jack Doohan go now?
He isn't hanging up the helmet. Far from it.
The most likely destination for Doohan in 2026 is a return to Japan, but not for F1. He’s been linked heavily to a seat in Super Formula, specifically with Kondo Racing. He already tested for them at Suzuka (the site of his F1 nightmare) in late 2025.
Interestingly, there is a "Toyota connection" here. Since Haas has a technical partnership with Toyota Gazoo Racing, rumors are swirling that Doohan might snag a Haas reserve role while racing in Japan. It’s a smart play. Super Formula cars are incredibly fast—closer to F1 speeds than F2—and it keeps him sharp while he waits for the 2027 "Silly Season" to open up.
Actionable Insights for F1 Fans
If you're following Doohan's career or looking at how the 2026 grid is shaping up, keep these factors in mind:
- Watch the Super Formula Results: If Doohan dominates in Japan, he becomes a prime candidate for a 2027 F1 seat, potentially at Haas or even Audi/Sauber if they need experience.
- The Colapinto Factor: Keep an eye on Franco Colapinto’s performance at Alpine in 2026. If he struggles to outpace Gasly, it suggests the car was the problem all along, vindicating Doohan’s early struggles.
- The 2026 Regulation Change: With entirely new car and engine regulations coming in 2026, teams might prefer experienced drivers. This makes Doohan’s "gap year" in Super Formula a high-stakes gamble.
Jack Doohan’s F1 story feels unfinished. He was the first Alpine Academy graduate to actually make it to the grid, but he was discarded before he could even finish a full season. Whether he's a "bust" or a victim of F1 politics is still up for debate, but his performance at the Japanese Grand Prix will unfortunately be remembered as the beginning of the end.