Is Jack Doohan’s position on the grid in jeopardy?
All eyes are on Jack Doohan this weekend in Japan.Credit: Getty Images
Oscar Piastri isn’t the only Australian on the grid. Jack Doohan, the son of five-time motorcycle world champion Mick, is in his first full season for French outfit Alpine (Renault’s factory team).
The 22-year-old from the Gold Coast has had an immediate baptism of fire since stepping into a full-time F1 race seat for 2025, having been given his grand prix debut at last season’s finale.
He spun out and crashed on the first lap of his home grand prix in Australia this year, and finished 13th after qualifying 18th in China.
Then, on Friday in Suzuka, Doohan had a horrifying crash when he left the track at nearly 300km/h before heading through a gravel trap and hitting a wall at speed. Shaken, Doohan was thankfully able to get out of the wreck and walk away.
He knows the eyes of the F1 world are watching him. He’s got Franco Colapinto, the financially well-backed Argentinian former Williams racer, breathing down his neck as Alpine’s reserve driver this season. And, as we saw with New Zealander Liam Lawson at Red Bull, it doesn’t take much for a driver to be replaced, seemingly at the click of a finger.
“The problem is that he’s known before the first race that he probably would not finish the season,” 1997 F1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve said on the Sky Sports F1 coverage.
“He’s been put under tremendous pressure by [Alpine boss] Flavio Briatore, mainly, with Colapinto there waiting in the wings, and the writing was on the wall. And his driving has shown desperation, having to prove that he’s at least better than [Pierre] Gasly, so they should keep him.”
What happened in qualifying?
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri after qualifying.Credit: Getty Images
The McLarens have been setting the pace through the early stages of the season, and did so again through each of the three practice sessions in Suzuka until Max Verstappen intervened.
The Red Bull star set a new Suzuka lap record to become the fourth different pole sitter from four qualifying sessions so far (the others being Lando Norris in Australia, Lewis Hamilton for the sprint race in China, and Oscar Piastri for the Chinese Grand Prix).
Verstappen set an absurd 1:26.983 to set the fastest time in Suzuka history – no mean feat, given how fast this track truly is, and how he wasn’t exactly thrilled with his Red Bull throughout practice.
It’s continued the Dutchman’s love affair with the famous Japanese circuit, too. Incredibly, he hasn’t been beaten either in a race or qualifying at Suzuka since 2019.
“If you look at how our season started – even during this weekend, yeah, it’s very unexpected,” Verstappen said of his qualifying performance.
“And I think that makes it, probably, a very special one.
“It’s insane.”
Norris also went sub-1:27.000 to claim this year’s other front-row position, with Piastri just behind with a 1:27.027.
“I felt good through most of qualifying, especially at the start of Q3,” the Australian star told broadcasters.
“The last lap didn’t quite come together as I wanted.
“But [these are] incredibly tight margins, so yeah, I think it’s all to play for.
“Max has obviously done a great job to end up on pole, but I think we’ve still got a great car for tomorrow and still in the fight for the win.”
With AAP, AP
Welcome to the Japanese Grand Prix
Lando Norris (second), Oscar Piastri (third), and Max Verstappen (pole) after qualifying at Suzuka.Credit: Getty Images
G’day, and welcome to the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.
My name is Russell, and I’ll be taking you through all of the action as Melbourne’s own Oscar Piastri – on his 24th birhday – looks to turn his third position in qualifying into back-to-back grand prix victories, following his near faultless drive in Shanghai.
Incredibly, just 0.044 seconds separated Red Bull superstar Max Verstappen on pole, from Piastri in third on the grid. It’s crucial to keep your eyes on any grand prix race start, but that’s even more the case today – given Piastri will be right behind Verstappen off the line, with Lando Norris (in second) with clear air into turn one. This will be “can’t miss” stuff.
It’ll be lights out for the race start at 3pm AEST.
