The shadow in the garage: Jack Doohan’s new life at Haas

It is easy to focus only on the drivers battling for position on track, but the machinery of Formula 1 relies on a vast support system. Jack Doohan, having completed a seven-round stint in F1 with Alpine, is now an essential part of that machine at Haas. Since signing in February, he has been working alongside Japanese racer Ryo Hirakawa to support the team’s full-time drivers, Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon.

Being a reserve driver is a high-stakes waiting game, but as Doohan explains, it is far from just sitting on a bench. It is a 'forever flow' of being on standby for illness or injury, while simultaneously acting as an extra set of eyes and ears for the engineers. From simulator sessions to navigating the complexities of race weekends in Canada and Monaco, Doohan provides a vital, unique perspective to the squad.

Beyond his F1 duties, the Australian is also competing in the European Le Mans Series, balancing his commitments with the 10 or 11 F1 weekends he is slated to attend this year. It is a demanding role, requiring him to filter out the paddock noise and focus on where he can truly add value. As he puts it, he is the closest person outside the race seat who knows exactly what is going on, and he remains ready should the call ever come to jump into the car.