Jacques Villeneuve, a former F1 world champion, commented that Jack Doohan’s driving has exhibited a sense of “desperation” following the news that a mistake was responsible for his significant crash during the second practice session at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Doohan lost control at the high-speed Turn 1 on just his second flying lap at the Suzuka Circuit after Alpine chose to field reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa during the first practice at his home race.
At first glance, it appeared that his Alpine car bottomed out, but a closer look at the replays revealed that the DRS on his rear wing remained open.
Typically, Turn 1 at Suzuka is taken flat out with low fuel, meaning drivers do not need to brake. The DRS system is designed to close automatically when the brake is applied, so drivers must manually shut the DRS flap via a button on their steering wheel before entering Turn 1.
Since Doohan neglected to do this, he lost downforce, leading to a massive spin that culminated in a collision with the wall. Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes expressed relief that Doohan walked away unharmed from the incident and acknowledged the need for learning from the misjudgment regarding the DRS.
Doohan expressed gratitude towards his team for their support while acknowledging the significant work required to repair the car in preparation for Free Practice 3 and Qualifying.
Villeneuve pointed out that Doohan is under substantial pressure, especially after Alpine signed Franco Colapinto, indicating speculation about his potential replacement. He noted that when a driver is aware of their precarious position, natural driving instincts are often affected, leading to mistakes.
