Doohan “super keen” for high-speed challenge in Jeddah

Jack Doohan put the “sour” end to his otherwise “very, very positive” Bahrain Grand Prix behind him, now turning his focus to the familiar high-speed challenge of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

Jumping out of the cockpit after the Bahrain Grand Prix, Doohan carried mixed sentiments from a weekend that rewarded him with his highest qualifying result of his F1 career but fell short in a race that could have ended with his maiden points-finish.

Revealing that he suffered from an “energy management issue” during the 57-lap race, a late penalty for track limits also contributed to the “sour” end, however, the Australian has since put the weekend behind him, now focusing on the final race of the first triple-header of the season.

“Feelings after Bahrain on the end result were mixed,” Doohan said.

“It was obviously the same as Qualifying, you know, looking very strong.

“And just at the end of the race, Safety Car timing didn’t help us, obviously, and, you know, the cars behind us were on much fresher soft tyres and also we were battling a little bit of an energy management issue that didn’t help when those boys were raging to get past me.

“And so yeah, the ending was a little bit sour, but the fact we positioned ourself, you know, in a normal circumstance to be finishing there in P9 and to get a few points was obviously very, very positive. 

“Taking that forward into this round and, yeah, settling into the team very well, there’s no new faces, but it’s just amazing now to be fully embedded as the driver and to continue this relationship.

“You know, it’s just getting better and better, and, you know, the team is working very, very well and my relationship with Pierre [Gasly] is obviously great so I think this is just helping that the team dynamic goes up and up and up.”

Despite undertaking his first Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Formula 1 machinery this weekend, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit isn’t a new challenge for Doohan who made his F2 debut on these very streets in 2022—experiencing the highs and lows of a DSQ, DNF, and top-ten finish across the weekend.

Then in 2023, Doohan put a more consistent weekend together to finish second in the Feature Race, a result that will be very tough to match come the chequered flag on Sunday.

The #7 kept his expectations for the weekend under wraps, admitting that Alpine won’t truly know where it will sit until its first few laps around the 6.1km track.

“On-track action, I’m super keen for,” Doohan said.

“To be honest, I’m just happy that it’s a little bit cooler than in Bahrain which is good—I was expecting it to be a little bit hotter.

“And, you know, this is one of my favourite circuits of the year.

“I had my first-ever F2 race here, and, you know, it’s been a privilege to come here each year.

“It’s super high-speed, also a street circuit so a combination of two fears but also two favours.

“And yeah, the car—probably the same thing as Pierre said—but we just need to wait and see till we get on track, and take nothing for granted or not really take anything from what has been for what is to come.

“We just treat every weekend as they come and maximise whatever we have when we’re on track.”

Alpine arrived in Bahrain as the only team yet to score a point in 2025, however, ended the weekend ninth in the standings on 6 points thanks to Pierre Gasly’s outstanding effort. 

Starting from P11, Doohan’s hopes of joining Gasly in the top-ten slowly slipped away, however, the hunger remains ahead of this weekend where the Australian—sitting as one of four drivers without a point to their name—will hope to score his maiden point.

Kicking off the familiar weekend, the first of three practice sessions will start tonight at 23:30 AEST, followed by FP2 at 03:00 AEST.

Image: Formula 1

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