BWT Alpine Formula One Team have confirmed they have reached a mutual agreement with Australian driver Jack Doohan to end his driving services with the team for the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship, freeing him up to pursue other opportunities.

In a statement shared by the team, Alpine said Doohan was the first member of the Alpine Academy to graduate into a race seat, making his Grand Prix debut at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The team also thanked him for “commitment and professionalism” over the past four years, both on and off the track. For the official report and the team wording, see Formula 1’s coverage of Alpine and Doohan parting ways.

What happened with Doohan at Alpine?

Doohan’s exit comes after a turbulent spell around Alpine’s second seat. Reports around the paddock and in major outlets indicate that Doohan started a recent season in a full-time race role but was later displaced, remaining contracted as a reserve driver before this latest decision formally ended his tie to the Renault-owned team. A summary of the timeline — including his demotion and Alpine’s driver situation heading into 2026 — is outlined in Reuters’ report on Alpine parting company with Doohan.

While Alpine’s statement focuses on the “mutual agreement” and thanks, the broader context is clear: the team is continuing to reshape its driver line-up as Formula 1 moves toward 2026 — a season that will arrive with major technical changes and huge pressure on teams to lock in stability early.

Why this matters for Alpine’s 2026 plans

Driver decisions tend to accelerate once teams start building toward a regulation change. Alpine’s confirmation that Doohan will not be part of its 2026 driving services removes a key name from its in-house options and clarifies that the team will move forward without him in its operational driver pool.

It also closes a significant chapter for Alpine’s junior pathway. Doohan was a highly visible example of a development driver stepping up from the Academy structure to a Formula 1 seat — and his departure raises fresh questions about how teams balance long-term talent plans with short-term performance demands.

What’s next for Jack Doohan?

Alpine’s announcement stresses that Doohan is being allowed to pursue “other career opportunities,” and the immediate takeaway is that he is now free to explore his next move without contractual restrictions from the team. For drivers leaving an F1 seat or reserve role, the realistic options often include:

• a new reserve or testing role at another F1 team,
• a switch to another high-level single-seater championship, or
• a move into endurance racing or other top-tier series.

Nothing in Alpine’s statement confirms Doohan’s destination, but the decision itself is a clear signal that his next step will be outside the Enstone-based operation.

The bottom line

Alpine have now made it official: Jack Doohan will not continue with the team for the 2026 Formula 1 season. The split ends a four-year association that included a landmark Academy graduation to a Grand Prix debut, but it also underlines how quickly F1 line-ups can change when teams chase results and reset for a new era.

Expect the next wave of headlines to focus on two things: who benefits from Alpine’s open pathway and where Doohan lands next.