A significant reshuffle has been confirmed on the Formula One grid as Alpine formally announced a driver departure ahead of the 2026 season. The French outfit revealed that it has mutually agreed to end its working relationship with Jack Doohan, drawing a definitive line under their collaboration following the conclusion of the 2025 campaign.
In an official statement, Alpine acknowledged Doohan’s progression through its academy system, noting his historic promotion as the first graduate to secure a full-time race seat with the team. His Grand Prix debut at the 2024 Abu Dhabi finale marked a symbolic milestone for the programme, one that initially signaled long-term intent rather than short-term experimentation.
However, Doohan’s 2025 season proved unforgiving. Partnering Pierre Gasly after stepping up from reserve duties, the Australian endured a bruising run of six race appearances without scoring a single point. A first-lap retirement in Miami epitomized a difficult stretch that ultimately led Alpine to enact a mid-season switch, installing Franco Colapinto—now confirmed to race alongside Gasly in 2026.
At the time of his removal, Doohan struck a measured and resilient tone, acknowledging the setback while pledging continued commitment behind the scenes. Yet the writing appeared to be on the wall when he later shared a series of understated, emotionally charged images from the season on social media—posts that quietly hinted at an impending exit without stating it outright.
Those suspicions were reinforced by public messages from colleagues and friends, whose comments carried the unmistakable finality of farewell rather than pause. Now officially released to “pursue other career opportunities,” Doohan departs Alpine at just 22 years old—his Formula One chapter brief, bruising, but undeniably real, and perhaps not yet finished.
About the Author
