Australian Formula One driver Jack Doohan has seemingly confirmed his departure from the Alpine team, posting an emotional farewell message to colleagues on social media. The 22-year-old's time with the Oxfordshire-based constructor appears over after a challenging six-race stint in the 2025 season.
A Dream Debut Cut Short
Doohan's journey to a full-time F1 seat was long-awaited. Having served as Alpine's reserve driver since 2023, he made his Grand Prix debut at the 2024 Abu Dhabi event. His promotion was confirmed later that year, with the Australian set to replace Esteban Ocon as Pierre Gasly's teammate for the 2025 campaign.
However, his rookie season failed to ignite. A series of poor results, compounded by on-track penalties and a significant crash during Japanese Grand Prix qualifying, hampered his progress. After just six races, Alpine made the decisive call to drop Doohan, promoting their other reserve driver, Franco Colapinto, to the race seat. Colapinto's position was later made permanent with a new deal signed in November.
The Heartfelt Goodbye on Instagram
The clearest signal of Doohan's exit came via a poignant Instagram slideshow. The post featured a series of images, including heartfelt hugs with Alpine team members and nostalgic snaps reflecting on his time with the Enstone squad. One particularly telling photo showed Doohan posing with what appears to be his signed Alpine contract from the start of the 2025 season.
The post prompted an outpouring of support from within the F1 paddock and beyond. Alpine race engineer Cristoforo Pirro wrote, "Thank broski! It was a pleasure to work with you. See you on track." Track coordinator Zac Knowles added, "Big love Jack!" while mechanic Ryan Dixon commented, "Jackie boy, it's been a pleasure watching you grow... We all know this is only the beginning!"
Fans also flooded the comments, with one noting, "You deserved so much more from 2025 Jack... Don't give up, keep pushing." Another lamented, "Dude, you deserved better. I wish this sport was never about money."
What's Next for the Australian Driver?
While Alpine has not yet issued an official statement on Doohan's future, reports suggest his F1 career may continue in a different capacity. According to Planet F1, the Australian is eyeing a move to the Toyota Super Formula series for 2026. Furthermore, he could secure a deal to return to the F1 grid as a reserve driver for the American-owned Haas team.
This potential path aligns with Doohan's own determined statements following his earlier demotion. After being replaced by Colapinto, he vowed to continue chasing his F1 dream, stating, "I am very proud to have achieved my lifelong ambition to be a professional Formula One driver... For now, I will keep my head down, keep working hard... and keep chasing my own personal goals."
His heartfelt farewell to Alpine marks the closing of one chapter, but the determined Australian is already looking to write the next.
