Oliver Oakes has good word for Jack Doohan after his late F1 debut in Abu Dhabi, as he notes of the Australian’s plan to prepare for 2025.
It all happened in a day or two when in Qatar when the proposition was laid out for Esteban Ocon to leave Alpine early to start with Haas in the Abu Dhabi test. The Frenchman took the option which allowed Doohan to make his F1 debut in 2024 itself before his full start in 2025.
It was still a late call for the Australian while Alpine was in a battle with Haas and Visa Cash App RB for sixth place in the constructors’ standings. But Doohan didn’t disappoint as team boss Oakes reflected. “He’s done a really good job,” he said to media. “I think I said it before the weekend, I felt a bit sorry for him, since his debut was a little bit overshadowed by different knives being put in, but I think he conducted himself brilliantly.
“And I think anyone who watched closely saw his rate of improvement throughout the weekend in Abu Dhabi. I think particularly qualifying as well. His first run in Q1 was really close to Pierre. I think he was a bit unlucky, sort of run two there with the last corner melee, with a few drivers. That second run in qualifying was probably a bit of a baptism of fire for him of everything you’ve got to deal with if you’re back of the queue and elbows out.
“It’s more just going through the emotions of a race weekend, and I think we’ll have to see early part of 2025 if that helps him or not. But in the race, I think he did exactly what we needed. He kept his nose clean. He put in a good second stint there. And we dragged him on a little bit to help us there, slowed the Haas down a little bit as well.
“I really feel Jack deserves a lot of credit for blocking out all that noise and delivering a solid weekend. It’s a testament to him, really. Aside from, you know, keeping his nose clean and showing a bit of speed and able to handle everything, he’s really done a really good job,” summed up Oakes. With the Christmas party done and dusted, it will all about looking towards 2025.
From January, the serious will begin after Doohan returns to base from holiday in Australia. But Oakes knows that no matter how many laps he does in testing and or simulator, it is ultimately the track experience alongside rivals which will be fruitful, as is for any driver on the grid.
“I think, obviously, prior to this weekend, he was always waiting in the wings,” Oakes said. “There was a bit of a getting up-to-speed programme; make sure you’re ready to jump in. Credit to everyone because he’s managed to jump in fine and deal with everything. Obviously we had the test on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, then it was factory Christmas hello – the Christmas party.
“Then it was Australia visit for a bit of an unwind and from January, he is straight back into it. He’ll obviously be busy on the simulator at the beginning of the year driving the new car. Then I think we have a bit of a warm-up test in an old car, and then it’s straight into pre-season. From my side, I think we know the first part of next year, we’ve still got to support him as a rookie and a newbie.
“But also, I think it’s exciting because there’s a lot of young guys on the grid next year as well. I think obviously no matter how many laps you do in the old car and on tracks where it’s probably not the same grip evolution and characteristics, I think it’s a big part of his box ticking and learning he’s got to do. But I wouldn’t say there’s any more focus on that in other areas as well.
“It’s like with all drivers, isn’t it? When you’ve done a few races, you see a trend of where they need to improve. I think at the moment, Abu Dhabi was all about just genuinely getting a race under his belt and then having a look at stuff. He was actually laughing then with me, saying the hardest thing was your thumbs at the end of the race,” summed up Oakes.
Here’s Pierre Gasly on Alpine getting him excited again
Here’s Jack Doohan identifying 2025 learning parts
Here’s Pierre Gasly seeing positive change in April-May itself
Here’s Oliver Oakes on Esteban Ocon
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