Clean race but sore thumbs: Doohan opens up after first Grand Prix

While Abu Dhabi hosted the final race of the year on Sunday, it was Jack Doohan's first full weekend at AlpineThe Australian driver is learning from this experience before tackling the 2025 season.

Published 09/12/2024 à 11:54

Julie-Anne Popelin

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Clean race but sore thumbs: Doohan opens up after first Grand Prix

© FLORENT GOODEN / DPPI Media

For his first 58 laps of the race in Formula 1, Jack Doohan managed to stay out of trouble in Abu Dhabi. Despite a lively session, with the clash between Max Verstappen et Oscar piastri from the first turn, the abandonments of Sergio Pérez and Franco Colapinto or the accident between Valtteri Bottas et Kevin Magnussen, none of these events involved the pilot who had just parachuted into the car Alpine, who finished 15th in his first F1 Grand Prix.

Jack Doohan delivered a smooth, error-free performance in a car that lacked any upgrades. The 21-year-old even helped his teammate, Pierre Gasly, got the DRS on the long straight to escape in front Nico Hulkenberg. The new arrival of the French team says: super grateful for every ride, for the experience, and for the team ", at the end of his first weekend. " It's great that we finished 6th in the constructors' standings and Pierre 10th in the drivers' standings, it's a very good result from him ", rejoices the replacement ofEsteban Ocon.

Learn for the future

Announced as a starter for the 2025 season, this late participation was seen as a potential Poisoned gift from the team advised by Flavio Briatore. However, the Gold Coast native concluded this first with brilliance. Jack Doohan draws lessons for the year to come: "I must learn to master hard tires, he noted, I wondered how hard I had to push for the first 20 laps with the Durs in the second stint (…) I think I can push more and use them a bit more.”

« I was happy to finish on the same pace as the others with the same strategy at the end of the race, so I'm looking forward to taking advantage of that next season. " announces the Australian, who thanks the whole team " for this opportunity and for everything they have done to prepare me for this race. » His biggest difficulties during his first Grand Prix? His thumbs! "They weren't working very well at the end of the race, to be honest, he told SpeedCafe. It was weird, it was something I didn't expect. » Jack Doohan remains in Abu Dhabi for Tuesday's post-season testing, before returning to enstone to celebrate the end of the year with the team and prepare for the 2025 deadlines.

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