Formula 1: Alpine releases Jack Doohan ahead of the 2026 season

Alpine has fired Australian Jack Doohan ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season.

The 22-year-old competed in six grands prix for the Renault-owned team at the start of last season before being replaced by Argentine Franco Colapinto.

Doohan remained with Alpine for the rest of last year, returning to the reserve driver role he had held since 2023.

The Alpine team retained Estonian Paul Aron as a reserve driver, while Colapinto remained as a racing driver alongside Frenchman Pierre Gasly.

Alpine said they “have reached a mutual agreement with Jack Doohan not to continue driving services with the team for the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship season and to allow him to pursue other career opportunities.”

They added: “The team would like to thank Jack for his commitment and professionalism to the team over the past four years, both on and off the track, and wish him all the best for the future.”

Formula 1 pre-season testing begins at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on January 26-30 with a special session in which teams will be allowed to run for three of the five days to test their new cars, after major rule changes were introduced that include new chassis and engine designs.

This is followed by two three-day tests in Bahrain on February 11-13 and 18-20 before the first Grand Prix of the 24-race season in Melbourne, Australia on March 6-8.