Jack Doohan isn't taking his chance with Haas for granted. The Australian driver recently completed a TPC (Testing Previous Car) test at the Jerez circuit in Spain as part of an audition for a full-time seat in the 2027 Formula 1 season. After being dropped by Alpine just seven races into his rookie campaign last year, Doohan is now fighting to rebuild his career in the paddock.
On his social media channels, Doohan expressed his gratitude. “Incredible feeling to be back behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car, massive thank you to the whole Haas F1 Team,” he wrote. Those words are more than just a formality; they reflect a long journey after losing his seat at Alpine.
However, the path to a Haas seat is far from easy. Doohan faces stiff competition from Ferrari junior Rafael Camara and McLaren reserve Leonardo Fornaroli, both of whom have also completed TPC tests for Haas earlier this year. In the ruthless world of racing, every second on track counts.
Team Principal Ayao Komatsu has laid out clear criteria for selecting the team's 2027 driver line-up. “I've always said we take drivers by performance, so performance comes absolutely first,” Komatsu told media including Motorsport Week. “If two drivers have got equal performance, affiliations or the packages they've got matter. But we never take somebody who is three tenths slower, but who has got affiliations with Toyota or Ferrari, or got five million more [in sponsorship]. We're not going to do that.”
Komatsu emphasised that performance remains the number one factor. Only if the gap is very small will affiliations and sponsorship packages come into play. “If it's within tenths, for instance – or very, very close – then the affiliation package does come into play for sure. I think we can choose by performance,” he added.
The decision is imminent but not expected anytime soon. “I don't know. Not next week, shall I say,” Komatsu said. “I think we're in a very fortunate situation. There are so many drivers interested in our seat, really.”
With this situation, Esteban Ocon finds himself on the verge of losing his full-time F1 status by the end of the 2026 season. Ocon, currently driving for Haas, must step up his performance if he wants to keep his seat. The internal competition at Haas is heating up, and Doohan is a real threat.
For Doohan, the Jerez test was a stage to prove he still belongs at the highest level. This opportunity doesn't come twice, and he knows exactly what's at stake. Now, the ball is in Komatsu's and Haas's court to decide who will partner their lead driver in 2027.
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