Jack Doohan is positioning himself for a potential return to the Formula 1 grid with Haas as the American outfit navigates a sudden driver reshuffle following Esteban Ocon’s departure and Ryo Hirakawa’s arrival.
Chaos descended on the Haas garage earlier this week during the Mexico City weekend, where the team announced a sudden overnight driver swap. Haas dropped Esteban Ocon, bringing in Ryo Hirakawa as his replacement. As sports.yahoo.com reported, the Australian driver was already slated to serve as Haas’ reserve driver for the 2026 season.
The Long Road Back From Alpine
For Doohan, the past two seasons have proved turbulent. The 23-year-old endured a brief stint in the Formula 1 main game in 2025 with Alpine, only to be abruptly let go after just six races—or seven, according to nine.com.au—when manager Flavio Briatore installed Argentinian driver Franco Colapinto in the seat. Severing ties completely with Alpine, Doohan found a lifeline with Haas in 2026 as a reserve driver, while also competing in the European Le Mans Series, which included a run at the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans, as noted by nine.com.au.
🚨 Jack Doohan could make a shock F1 return with Haas at next weekend’s São Paulo Grand Prix!Ryo Hirakawa is expected to be unavailable due to his WEC commitments with Toyota, potentially opening the door for Doohan to take over Esteban Ocon’s seat.Haas reportedly remains… pic.twitter.com/mKJUPG7ti3
Haas has endured a difficult campaign trying to keep their season alive. Ocon consistently struggled to match teammate Ollie Bearman, scoring just three of the team’s 21 points this season. Ocon addressed his uncertain future with media in Azerbaijan, stating, At the moment, I’m definitely a free agent for next year. There are things in discussion that are out of my control.
Weighing Options for the 2027 Grid
While Ocon is all but certain to miss the remainder of the season, filling his shoes permanently for 2027 involves a delicate balancing act for team principal Ayao Komatsu. Ferrari-backed junior Rafael Camara has emerged as the clear favourite for the permanent seat alongside the nearly confirmed Ollie Bearman. Camara impressed during testing and brings vital backing from Brazilian sponsors, which could provide Haas with much-needed financial support, as detailed by nine.com.au. Yet, throwing the 21-year-old F2 title contender into a premature F1 debut was deemed too risky by team management, who opted to shield him from extra pressure while he fights for the Formula 2 crown.
| Driver | Current Role / Status | 2027 Outlook |
|---|---|---|
| Jack Doohan | Haas Reserve Driver | Auditioning for 2027 reserve/development role |
| Rafael Camara | F2 Contender / Ferrari-Backed Junior | Frontrunner for permanent race seat (No. 50) |
| Ryo Hirakawa | Toyota-Backed Driver / Haas Stand-in | WEC commitments; temporary stand-in |
| Esteban Ocon | departing Haas Driver | Leaving team at end of 2026 |
Komatsu acknowledged the depth of the team’s testing pool, noting that all participants—including Leo Fornaroli, Camara, Hirakawa, and Doohan—extracted strong performances during previous car testing. To be fair, the good thing of all the driver selection process was all the drivers who were involved did a very, very good job,
Komatsu told Motorsport Week. Regarding Doohan’s long-term prospects, Komatsu added, So with Jack, our door’s open. Definitely, we’ve been talking with himself and then his manager as well to see if we can do something together beyond this year.
What Lies Ahead in São Paulo
If the Australian performs strongly in the remaining rounds, Haas could secure a dependable development and reserve driver for 2027. Meanwhile, Camara has already settled on race number 50 for his eventual debut—a number temporarily used by Hirakawa in Mexico City, which the veteran will have to forfeit to the young Brazilian if he fails to return before Camara’s arrival.
With most other seats across the Formula 1 grid locked down—including Isack Hadjar securing Red Bull’s stable for 2027—Haas retains considerable leverage as one of the few destinations with open doors for the upcoming cycle.
