Jack Doohan looks to have said his goodbyes to colleagues at Alpine, amid speculation that he could be set to join a rival Formula 1 team. The Australian racer’s says with Alpine have looked number ever since he was removed from a race seat after just six pointless rounds of the 2025 season, with Franco Colapinto installed for the rest of the season.

Doohan remained on the books as a reserve and simulator driver but has not been given the chance to get back behind the while in a race. Colapinto was initially given five races but ended up keeping the seat for the rest of the season and even earning a new deal heading into the 2026 campaign, despite also failing to score a point.

Doohan last month tested in the Japanese Super Formula series in the hope of a return, though he did not fare well as he crashed on all three days, the trio of incidents all happening at the very same corner of the Suzuka circuit. Regardless, he looks set to move on to pastures new.

Photographs published on his Instagram account show the 22-year-old hugging some Alpine colleagues, while Doohan also posted some highlights from his past career with Alpine, including his first race in F1 at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and one of him holding a Formula 2 race victory photo outside team hospitality with former CEO Laurent Rossi and axed team principal Otmar Szafnauer.

There was no caption included, though it had the feeling of a farewell post and fans in the comments certainly got that impression. More than a thousand people took the opportunity to send their well-wishes to the young racer who, despite that disastrous Super Formula test, looks increasingly likely to land a new role which will also keep him in touch with F1.

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If Doohan does return to racing in Super Formula, it will come with the support of Toyota and that would open a door to that F1 role he would love to retain. Toyota Gazoo Racing have extended their partnership with Haas ahead of the 2026 season to a name sponsorship and that opens the door for Doohan to join as the team’s reserve driver.

He would be on duty at some race weekends to back up Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon. Doohan would likely share the role with Ryo Hirakawa who was Haas’ reserve last year and who will remain affiliated with Toyota himself.

His exit from Alpine has nto yet been publicly confirmed, though it has been expected to happen for some time since it became clear that Doohan has no F1 future with the outfit. Paul Aron is set to continue with Alpine as their reserve for 2026, having missed out on the chance to make his F1 debut when the team elected to stick with Colapinto heading into the new campaign.