Alpine Driver Jack Doohan’s Heavy Crash Analyzed

In a surprising turn of events, rookie driver Jack Doohan experienced a heavy crash during the second practice session of Formula 1’s Japanese Grand Prix. Team boss Oliver Oakes labeled it as a “misjudgment.” The incident occurred at high-speed Turn 1, where Doohan spun off and collided heavily with the barriers. Despite the severe impact, Doohan was unharmed and underwent precautionary checks at the medical center.

Understanding the Cause of Jack Doohan’s Crash

The cause of Doohan’s crash was his failure to manually close his DRS mechanism before entering Turn 1. With the rear wing still open due to this aerodynamic imbalance, his Alpine spun as soon as he turned into the corner. It is important to note that the DRS overtaking device deactivates automatically when a driver hits the brakes, but this was not the case in this particular corner.

To clarify, the DRS system is designed to open under certain speed conditions to aid overtaking. However, it is the driver’s responsibility to manually close it when approaching corners or when it is not beneficial for performance. In Doohan’s case, he failed to do so, leading to the unfortunate incident.

Team’s Response and Future Plans

Oakes expressed relief that Doohan walked away from the incident unscathed and praised the team’s efforts in ensuring his safety. He also acknowledged it as a learning experience for both Doohan and the team, emphasizing their readiness for the next session. The crew will work tirelessly to repair the car and prepare it for the following day.

Doohan himself admitted that the incident took him by surprise and promised to learn from it. He thanked his team for their efforts and focused on preparing for the upcoming sessions. Due to a scheduling conflict, Doohan had to cede his spot in FP1 to Alpine test driver Ryo Hirakawa, leaving Doohan with only four laps of Suzuka under his belt heading into Saturday.

Performance Analysis and Future Prospects

In the other car, Pierre Gasly’s performance seemed to confirm Alpine’s position in the midfield, competing against teams like Williams and Aston Martin. Oakes acknowledged that there are areas for improvement from a performance standpoint, but expressed confidence in their readiness for the qualifying session.

Hirakawa had a successful run in FP1, which bodes well for the team’s prospects. They have been experimenting with different set-up options between cars and have identified a promising direction to pursue ahead of qualifying. The team is optimistic about their chances and is preparing diligently for the challenges that lie ahead.