Meet Jack Doohan, the Australian rookie who has been raised by some of the most influential champions in motorsport. Hoping to follow in their footsteps, he joins Alpine for the 2025 season.
Doohan’s Junior Career
Doohan is no stranger to being surrounded by influential figures in motorsport.
The son of the five-time Grand Prix motorcycle road racing World Champion Mick Doohan was gifted his first go-kart at age nine by Michael Schumacher.
Winning multiple national titles, including the Australian Karting Championship in 2015 and 2016, Doohan then graduated to junior formulae in 2018.
Initially, the Australian started his single-seater career in the F4 British Championship at the age of 15, with the driver also being part of the Red Bull Junior Team at this time.
Joining the TRS Arden Junior Racing Team alongside fellow Red Bull Junior Dennis Hauger, Doohan scored three wins throughout the season, finishing fifth in the standings.
In 2019, Doohan appeared in the F3 Asian Championship with Hitech Grand Prix, winning five races and finishing second in the championship.
The following winter, Doohan returned to the series with Pinnacle Motorsport. He once again finished the championship in second position, behind Joey Alders.
However, Doohan’s main campaign in 2019 was in Euroformula Open, competing with Double R.
Although the Australian finished on the podium twice, he ended the season in 11th position, and sixth in the rookies.
Doohan Joins Formula 3
Progressing to the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2020, Doohan partnered Jake Hughes and Enzo Fittipaldi at HWA Racelab.
However, the Australian driver described his rookie F3 campaign as “very, very tough”, with an array of incidents and misfortune leading to zero points by the end of the season.
During post-season testing, Doohan tested for Trident, where he would later join the team for the 2021 season.
Partnering Clement Novalak and David Schumacher, his second F3 season would prove as more successful.
Finishing second in the overall standings, defining moments of his season included two pole positions, seven podiums and four race wins, including at the final round of the season in Sochi.
Doohan’s Formula 2 Campaign
Following Doohan’s strong F3 season, the driver’s FIA Formula 2 campaign began early.
The Australian joined MP Motorsport for the final two rounds of the 2021 championship, replacing Richard Verschoor.
In his second race, Doohan finished in fifth position and therefore scored his first points, with this impressive result being followed by a P2 qualification in the Yas Marina finale.
He scored points once again in the second sprint race, finishing his partial F2 campaign in 19th position with eight points.
In December 2021, Virtuosi Racing announced that Doohan would join Marino Sato at the team full-time for the 2022 championship.
Although the driver experienced a promising start to the season, including a pole position at the first round in Bahrain, challenges were imminent.
These included a race-ending collision with Logan Sargeant in Jeddah’s Sprint Race, an end to his top three qualifying streak in Baku where he secured only 11th and a loose wheel forcing him to retirement at the final round in Yas Marina.
Despite this, Doohan ended up in sixth position in the drivers’ standings with 128 points, three pole positions, six podiums and three wins total.
After remaining with Virtuosi for the 2022 post-season test, it was confirmed that Doohan would remain with the British team in 2023. He partnered Amaury Cordeel.
Although he experienced a tough opening round in Bahrain, the rest of his season was characterised by several highs, including his first pole position of the year in Hungary, followed by his maiden win of the season where he dominated by nine seconds.
The Australian finished third in the standings, securing two pole positions, five podiums and three wins.
Doohan’s Journey With Alpine
In 2022, Doohan made the crucial decision to sign to the Alpine Academy, having previously been part of the Red Bull Junior Team.
This decision gave the Australian driver a myriad of opportunities, including the team’s F1 testing programme and their project within the World Endurance Championship.
It was May 2022 that saw Doohan’s first test in the Alpine A521 at the Losail International Circuit. Following this, he also tested at the Monza Circuit and Hungaroring.
Crucially, towards the end of the 2022 season, Doohan participated in his first free practice sessions (FP1) at the Mexico City Grand Prix and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Additionally, rumours were speculating, posing that Doohan may be considered for a full-time seat in F1 after discussions were seemingly had between himself and the team.
Despite this, in 2023, Doohan was announced as the Reserve Driver for Alpine where he once again participated in FP1 at the Mexico City Grand Prix and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Following this, he took part in the young drivers’ test for the team, setting the seventh fastest time.
Doohan’s 2024 campaign purely focused on his Reserve Driver role at Alpine, with his main goal being a full-time F1 seat for the 2025 season.
In August 2024, it was finally announced that Doohan would compete for the team alongside Pierre Gasly, replacing Esteban Ocon.
However, Doohan’s full-time debut for the team started early, with the driver being promoted to F1 just before the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Australian qualified 20th at the final race of the season, finishing 15th in Sunday’s race.
Also taking part in the Yas Marina post-season test at the end of 2024, Doohan completed 137 laps and set the eighth-fastest time overall.
Borrowed Time?
Despite only participating in just one full F1 race weekend, is Doohan already on borrowed time?
Since Franco Colapinto’s sudden emergence into the sport halfway through the 2024 season, replacing Logan Sargeant at Williams, he has been praised for his talent and determination.
With Williams’ strong 2025 line-up consisting of Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, Colapinto was seemingly left with no choice but to look elsewhere for other options to continue his pursuit.
In January 2025, it was announced that Colapinto would be joining Alpine as a Test and Reserve Driver on a multi-year deal.
However, with rumours fuelled by Alpine’s Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore, Doohan’s future with the team may be tainted by Colapinto.
“We will start the year with Pierre [Gasly] and Jack, I can guarantee you that,” said Briatore to Le Parisien newspaper.
“Then, we will see during the season. If a driver doesn’t deliver results, doesn’t progress, he will be replaced. You can’t be emotional in Formula 1.”
“We believe this agreement with Alpine represents Franco’s best chance of securing a race seat in 2025 or 2026,” added Williams Team Principal James Vowles.
This statement appears to support the rumour that Doohan’s contract may only guarantee him a seat for the initial six grands prix of 2025.
A Future Champion?
Although Doohan already faces immense pressure to continue his pursuit in the brutal world of F1, there is no doubt that the Australian was raised by champions of motorsport.
Alpine will be hoping consistent point finishes will be on the cards, with a chaotic race like Brazil 2024 maybe even leading to another double podium.
Featured Image Credit: Alpine
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