Doohan sees new F1 opportunity through Haas: 'Everything focused on 2027 comeback'

Few drivers have experienced as much in their young careers as Doohan. Much has been said and written about his difficult time at Alpine, where the Australian was sidelined in 2025 after just six Grand Prix weekends. It’s a chapter Doohan has fully closed now that he has found a home at Haas.

After everything Doohan has had to endure, the hospitality suite of the American team certainly doesn’t house a broken driver. He owes that to his positive mindset, he tells GPblog in an exclusive interview. “It's definitely not easy to keep on track,” the Australian says.

Doohan looks mentally stronger than ever, enjoying the new adventure. Should Esteban Ocon or Oliver Bearman be unable to take part in a Grand Prix for any reason, the Australian is ready to step in. In any case, Doohan hasn’t forgotten how to race, even if it might have been tempting to throw in the towel.

“I think it depends if you sort of check out of it mentally. For me, still, it's very much embedded in what I'm doing. Obviously, I'm on the sim most days. I'm still in the mindset of Formula 1, so it hasn't been checked out in something that I've disconnected with,” says the 23-year-old driver.

Doohan didn’t doubt himself or whether he was good enough for Formula 1 either: “There're moments where there's a little bit more uncertainty of not knowing where the future's going to lie. But I made sure that I've done everything that I could with what's in my control, and gave 100%. And then it comes down to talent, hard work and determination."

Doohan received plenty of criticism during his months as a full-time Alpine driver. “Yeah, I think this is part of the sport,” he responds with a shrug. “It makes the difference between going sideways or pushing through. So I knew what was actually happening, inside my control. I got a little bit caught out in the situation in the end, because I didn't think that with the contract that I had, I could be put on the sidelines.

At the same time, Doohan also realizes that in Formula 1 there’s always someone new ready to take your place. “There's great talent obviously always coming through. So just have to make do with the opportunities. So just have to make through with the opportunities you get and go from there.”

Perhaps that chance will come at Haas, where the contracts of Ocon and Bearman expire after the season. Naturally, Doohan wants to return to the sport, but he prefers not to get ahead of himself. "I think it's very early days. So, for sure, everything needs to be logical. I'm not just going to be taking a place and the goal is to get back in the car. I don't want to be holding it out for some younger kid that's pushing through to come in. So, it'll be a year of understanding what direction it is and what possibilities there are for the future. That's why also being in sports cars gives an opportunity to have an idea for the future."

In any case, Doohan is also looking beyond, for example with his participation in the recent 24 Hours of Le Mans. “You have to be honest. I'm striving to get back into Formula 1 for 2027. But if that doesn't seem fit, I think it would be illogical to presume there's much of a future beyond 2027.

“Exactly,” Doohan then responds immediately when it’s suggested that a hypercar in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) is also cool. Or maybe an opportunity will arise in Formula E or IndyCar, although the Australian isn’t thinking about that now. “I wouldn't say it's not on my focus, just currently with what I have at the table, focusing obviously at the sole goal, on Formula 1 right now, while getting the experience in the sports cars. And we're still, let's say in June. So things will shape up throughout the tail of the year.”