Alpine Rookie Jack Doohan Prepares for Bahrain Race Amid Injury Concerns

The 2025 Formula 1 season has been a challenging one for Alpine rookie, Jack Doohan. His struggles were further compounded by a crash during the Japanese race weekend, which left him visibly in pain. As he gears up for the Bahrain campaign, the Australian was asked about any injuries following his high-speed shunt at Turn 1 during the Japanese Grand Prix.

The Aftermath of the High-Speed Shunt: Jack Doohan’s Injuries Explained

Footage captured Doohan struggling to pull himself out of the car after the incident, with Haas driver Esteban Ocon and surrounding marshals having to assist him. The Australian was seen walking away in pain, clutching his left arm, raising concerns about his health among viewers. However, these rumors were swiftly dismissed.

During a press conference, Doohan explained the footage. “I think yeah, I was sore a little bit on Friday, and certainly Saturday was a bit worse, and Sunday a little bit worse again. So I’d say that there was pain from the start of the race, not necessarily towards the end, but it helps with the adrenaline a little bit for sure.” He added, “A couple of days off, Monday, Tuesday, and obviously yesterday has been very much needed.

Doohan’s crash occurred due to his DRS flap still being open when he entered the corner. With reduced downforce at the rear of the car, the car snapped and spun out of control into the barriers. Following the incident, it was confirmed that Doohan failed to close the DRS manually, requiring him to dab the brake pedal momentarily instead.

Learning from Mistakes: The Lesson from Jack Doohan’s Crash

Team principal Ollie Oakes explained the incident at the time. “It was a misjudgement of not closing the DRS into Turn 1,” he said. “It is something to learn from, and I know Jack and the team will be ready for tomorrow.

The car sustained significant damage as a result of the crash, with reports estimating a repair bill of approximately £1.3 million. The incident also caused a red flag on an already chaotic morning at Suzuka – a morning Doohan had missed due to giving up his car to Ryo Hirakawa for FP1.

Starting the race with little experience at the track, Doohan struggled during qualifying. Despite this, he managed to finish P15, just two places behind team-mate Pierre Gasly.