Jack Doohan faced a challenging start to the Formula One season after crashing out on the first lap of the Australian Grand Prix. Despite a promising qualifying performance, the Alpine driver was one of three competitors who succumbed to the tricky wet conditions following heavy rain.
The 22-year-old’s early exit marked a disappointing end to his second F1 race, placing him under increased pressure to perform. Alpine’s reserve drivers, particularly Franco Colapinto, are waiting in the wings, adding further scrutiny to Doohan’s position.
Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes acknowledged the difficult circumstances but emphasized the importance of delivering results. He noted that Doohan had shown strong pace over the weekend, often matching or slightly outpacing teammate Pierre Gasly, but consistency remains key to securing his future in the sport.
“I feel for him, but Formula One is unforgiving,” Oakes said. “If you’re here, you need to prove you belong, no matter the circumstances.”
Doohan described the crash as a learning experience, explaining that his car lost grip while shifting up from third gear. He speculated that one of the circuit’s painted white lines might have contributed to the sudden loss of control.
“I wasn’t doing anything unusual, but as I went into fourth gear, I lost the car,” he said. “It’s something I need to understand better, and I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Despite the setback, Oakes remained positive about Doohan’s overall weekend performance. The young Australian had handled the immense pressure of racing in front of his home crowd well, and his qualifying effort demonstrated potential.
“He’s had a lot thrown at him, especially in the past few weeks,” Oakes said. “But he handled himself well, and in qualifying, he delivered a strong performance.”
The treacherous conditions in Melbourne caught out multiple drivers. Isack Hadjar spun on the formation lap, while Carlos Sainz also crashed under the yellow flag brought out by Doohan’s incident.
Doohan, however, refused to blame external factors for his mistake.
“It’s my first crash in a Formula One car, and I’m sure it won’t be my last,” he admitted. “It’s a tough way to learn, but I accept responsibility. We’re all human.”
Speculation about his future remains high, with reports suggesting he may have only a few races to prove he deserves his seat. Oakes confirmed that he had addressed the rumors with Doohan during the off-season but insisted that the young driver was aware of the demands of Formula One.
“He understands what this sport is about,” Oakes said. “I told him to focus on the opportunity he has and not get distracted by outside noise.”
Doohan remains determined to move forward, stating that every race is an opportunity to improve.
“You have to enjoy today and look ahead to tomorrow,” he said. “Every time I get into one of these cars, it’s a privilege, and I look forward to many more races here at home.”
Among the six rookies on the grid, only Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman managed to finish the race, which was won by Lando Norris in the McLaren.
