Jack Doohan is ready to begin his F1 career close to home
Ahead of the 2024 Miami Grand Prix Jack Doohan, then a reserve driver at Alpine, told me about growing up on Australia’s Gold Coast and dreaming of racing in the Australian Grand Prix one day.
Later this week, that dream will become a reality.
The 2025 Formula 1 season kicks off this weekend with the Australian Grand Prix, and this year Doohan will be on the grid, having secured a full-time spot at Alpine alongside Pierre Gasly. The rookie driver “cannot wait’ for the experience.
“I cannot wait to kick off the 2025 Formula One season and doing it on home turf in Australia makes it even more special. Starting my full-time rookie season in Albert Park is a dream come true and the support from the fans will be incredible so I will be soaking up every moment,” said Doohan in the team’s media preview. “I have worked so hard for this opportunity, now it is about working closely with the team and ensuring I extract the absolute maximum from the car.”
Still, there is a race this weekend, and Doohan and Gasly now face the challenge of the “tricky” Albert Park circuit.
“Albert Park is a tricky circuit, it is part street track, part permanent circuit, which makes it unique. The surface can be slippery, and getting into a rhythm early is key,” continued Doohan. “A strong start to the season is always important, so I am hoping we can put everything together and kick things off the right way. It is hard to predict exactly where we will be in terms of performance until we get out on track in Melbourne, but our goal is to optimise every aspect of the car and put ourselves in the best possible position.”
As for Gasly, he believes that Alpine is on their way up, given how they developed throughout the 2024 season. The team began the year at the back of the grid but battled up the standings to finish sixth in the Constructors’ Championship, securing a double-podium at the São Paulo Grand Prix along the way.
“Albert Park is a unique street circuit, bumpy and tricky, and the first few races of the year are always unpredictable because the tracks are all so different. In a tight midfield battle, consistency will be key,” said Gasly. “Last year, we started the season in a tough place, but the way we turned things around was really impressive,” continued the veteran driver. “I haven’t seen a transformation like that within a season before. Long term, we’re here to compete at the front. It will take time, but I truly believe we’re heading in the right direction.
“I can’t wait to get the season started in Melbourne and to see how we perform against the competition.”
