'Without Red Bull I would not have been where I am now with Alpine'

Ambitions were sky-high at the start of the previous Formula 2 season. Jack Doohan thought he could become champion after finishing sixth a year earlier. Lots of bad luck in the first few months soon drastically reduced his title chances. In the end, the young talent finished third in the final standings and won more feature races (3) than any other driver.

Doohan, a big name in the sport

It is easy to imagine that Doohan is still unknown to the general public. When Alpine's reserve is asked by GPBlog who Jack Doohan is, the youngster said: "He's an aspiring Formula 1 driver. He is keen to get an opportunity to show exactly what he can do and show that he deserves to be a full-time Formula 1 driver."

His father is world-famous. Mick Doohan won five world titles in the 500cc class on motorbikes. "It's just good to have him in my corner. To have someone like my father, who has been at the top, understand what it takes to have him as my number one supporter is really good. It's beneficial for me, but at the end of the day, he's also my father, so we do butt heads. We do disagree. We don't always agree with that father-son relationship, but in recent years, I'm maturing from a young boy into a young man and I'm understanding things from his perspective better. I really appreciate it more now than ever."

No breakthrough with Red Bull Racing

Doohan seemed destined for a seat at (then) Toro Rosso/AlphaTauri or even Red Bull Racing for years. Back in 2017, the Austrians secured the Australian for their junior team. Four years later, Doohan left Red Bull and joined Alpine. It seemed (and still seems) a remarkable move. Not for Doohan.

"I think how they integrate the driver into the Formula 1 team is very beneficial for us and super important," Doohan states about Alpine. "Because a lot of drivers at other academies, when they get that Formula 1 opportunity, they haven't really had much experience at all with the understanding of the team, understanding the car, or really the relationship with anyone within the team. Alpine do create that opportunity to spend more time with the team and really create those relationships. They also offer that track time in the Formula 1 car.

"In my first year, I think only three months after joining the academy, I was having my first F1 test here in Qatar, and already working in the F1 simulator, doing race team support, and spending a lot of time with the engineers. That's something that you can't buy in a way. It's an opportunity that can't be missed."

Doohan saw more opportunities at Alpine

Doohan prefers not to answer a question about the differences between the Alpine Academy and the Red Bull Junior Team. "It's difficult to say, to be honest. I personally don't want to go too deep into the differences, but I'm happy where I am now. I've been able to blossom since I joined the Alpine Academy. I've really been able to take the next step in my racing career. To have the opportunity to understand Formula 1 as a driver better. I appreciate the things I went through with Red Bull, and if I hadn't gone through there, I don't think I would be where I am now."

With Red Bull, Doohan might have had a tough time finding a seat in F1. That's not different with Alpine. Moving up from the junior classes is difficult for talents to achieve - if not impossible. After all, there are only 20 seats in Formula 1 and the crop of really good drivers is large. That is why there are sometimes calls for F1 teams to give young drivers a chance during Grands Prix.

In the same boat as other juniors

Doohan doubts an obligation will make a difference: "I do think such a change would be a big decision. And it doesn't really matter what I say. It won't change anything. But I would like us to have the opportunity to showcase our talent. Junior classes can be masking, unfortunately. As you can see with Liam [Lawson], with nothing really exceptional in his junior career, never really being in a top team.

"So he wasn't able to really show exactly how good he was. And since he's been given the opportunity, by fault of Daniel Ricciardo's injury, now people can see how good he is. And I believe that I'm in the same position. Not just us two, but I'm sure there's plenty of other drivers out there that are the same," Doohan said.

Next season, the Australian will not (yet) get the chance to live up to his words. He will no longer race in F2 but will have a test and reserve role at Alpine. Nor will he race for the Frenchmen's World Endurance Champion team. "No. Get ready for Formula 1," is Doohan's goal in 2024

This story came about partly thanks to Tim Kraaij