79 replies to this topic

[Frood]

Based on my data, Doohan was actually the second-fastest driver over one lap in qualifying average in F2 2022 behind Drugovich, and the fastest driver over one lap in race trim, which was impressive for a rookie. Virtuosi definitely mucked something up in early 2023, which is why he got outqualified by Cordeel a couple of times, but he recovered to 4th fastest by the end of the season in both Quali and race trim. So he's no slouch by any means. Either way, I enjoy seeing new blood in F1 rather than recycling the same old drivers year on year.

[djr900]

Winning titles in other racing series, before getting to F1 is no guarantee that the driver will be an F1 success.

Damon Hill did okay, without winning any car or kart championships before getting to F1

Doohan may surprise a few people

[Myrvold]

Doohan does feel like a slightly boring choice.

 

However, I like that new drivers get the chance, and if Alpine hadn't used any of their jr.drivers or WEC-drivers to replace Ocon, I think it would be very hard to get anyone to commit to being an Alpine jr in the future.

[Sterzo]

Re Doohan: the truth is there's a pool of promising drivers, and we can't distinguish their relative potential with certainty. The more of them who get a chance to have a go, the better.

[Risil]

Doohan looked pretty good in the rain at Silverstone in 2022. There are juniors with more exciting records but they might not want to drive for Alpine.

[B38]

My fear is that he may turn out to be Jolyon Palmer 2.0.

That he will turn into a very good F1 analist?

[krapmeister]

That he will turn into a very good F1 analist?

 

No idea if Jolyon is into that sort of thing, but he makes a pretty decent commentator.

[cyclist]

If Ricciardo stays for next year, we wil have three Australian drivers on the grid! Has this ever happened before? Might be time to consider a second Australian GP? With Lawson likely to join, we will have a kiwi too.

[Clrnc]

Finally! He deserves his chance. On his day he was pretty quick in f2.

What are the remaining seats left? Audi? Given that RB all but confirmed Lawson and Yuki...

Oh wait, there's Red Bull and Merc

[noikeee]

If Ricciardo stays for next year, we wil have three Australian drivers on the grid! Has this ever happened before? Might be time to consider a second Australian GP? With Lawson likely to join, we will have a kiwi too.

Surely a second Aussie GP wouldn't be commercially viable? I'd imagine it's particularly expensive to get the teams travelling all the way down there. Unless it's a double header.

Also Ricciardo's career is clearly fading even if he survives for next year, and we don't know just yet if Doohan and Lawson will be successful. The only name that's looking safe for the next good few years is Piastri.

Edited by noikeee, 23 August 2024 - 13:36.

[JvsKVB77]

 
 

 
 

 

Really surprised to see so many (selection above) who are comparing Doohan with Sargeant. In particular the third one, the bit in bold. Doohan would have been a title contender in F2 last season if not for a broken chassis in the early rounds. If you exclude the rounds he ran with the broken chassis, he scored more points than anyone else. He "didn't really come close" not because of a lack of talent and pace, but because of equipment issues outside of his control.

 

 
 

 

 

These two are a bit more reasonable comments. Personally, my feeling is that Doohan is clearly not on Piastri's level. But he does have the potential to be a long term addition to the grid if the stars align for him. I think he'll surprise a few people who've commented in this thread next season.

Can't say this have not reasons.

 

Jack at least better prepared, than Logan. Yes his second F2 year was compromised by car problems, but he is not the best driver, who could have this seat. But for me, his junior career is slightly above the lower edge, which i consider enough to have a chance in F1. I think he will be better, than Logan, but not for much.

Edited by JvsKVB77, 23 August 2024 - 15:17.

[SB]

Has Jack (dis)confirmed the announcement in twitter yet ?! 

[messy]

Doohan did well in F2 and occasionally showed the pace to dominate feature races, so he’s quick enough. I’m surprised too that he’s only 21 too because I honestly thought he was 24/25 - partly because he’s been around for a while but also because he seems quite mature for his age. That’ll stand him in good stead too particularly in the sometimes chaotic environment at Alpine!

There’s a definite argument that had Virtuosi not messed up in the first half of 2023, Doohan would probably have been champion rather than third in his second year. Three pretty convincing feature race wins in the second half of that season beats anyone else. His F2 record in his rookie year being pretty similar to Sargeant’s is another point I’ve seen elsewhere, but then again I don’t think Sargeant is a terrible driver by any means, he’s another who might have impressed much more in different circumstances. So, whatever. A new driver and a second rookie on the 2024 grid, yey.

Edited by messy, 23 August 2024 - 15:00.

[Lurb]

He does a lot of iRacing, where he is infamously dirty.

I know it doesn´t matter to him and most of you because yeah, a game. But to me it does, so thumbs down and boo from here.

His dad was awesome tho.

[Alfisti]

I think he will surprise people, he had a spark that is just there. Likely to make a few errors but raw pace will give gasly headaches.

Apparently works like a dog, tireless work ethic to find last 2 tenths. Old man has a level head, good guidance.

[messy]

He does a lot of iRacing, where he is infamously dirty.
I know it doesn´t matter to him and most of you because yeah, a game. But to me it does, so thumbs down and boo from here.
His dad was awesome tho.

Was it Vandoorne who some people on here had a massive hate boner for because he cheated at iRacing?

These guys are well paid pros in the real world, no idea why he felt the need to do that. Same competitive instinct that took him to F1 maybe.

[WonderWoman61]

Had a feeling Jack was going to get the Alpine seat eventually.

[billm99uk]

I think Doohan has done enough to earn a shot. Pity his second full season of F2 was compromnised by whatever happened to the start of his season.

[Wes350]

As with others I think he’s a pretty average driver who will quickly be shuffled through and I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if he’s gone after 2025 itself.

 

That said F1 needs to have this conveyer belt of guys coming in and getting a chance to show what they can do 

 

Pretty much agree.

 

All else being equal; I'd prefer they'd take a punt on the guys that actually won the F2 championship.

 

But life isn't even remotely fair, so we have to run with the ones that are allowed to show up to the party...

Edited by Wes350, 23 August 2024 - 20:52.

[arrysen]

Pretty much agree.

 

All else being equal; I'd prefer they'd take a punt on the guys that actually won the F2 championship.

 

But life isn't even remotely fair, so we have to run with the ones that are allowed to show up to the party...

F1 teams are unlikely to simply take a punt BUT they can stick young drivers in older test cars and have real-world data from there (& maybe also sims) to use in the evaluation process. Clearly Jack stacks up well enough in that data for the team to believe in him. 

[RPM40]

When you account for his early season car issues last year he was the best performer following that in F2 so I expect good things from Jack.

 

He never impressed as much as Piastri but was always competitive at the front of the grid. 

[Boxerevo]

I remember him being a gifted driver at F2, looked good for sure.

[jradicals]

I may be wrong, but I think Doohan will be the first Renault/Alpine junior they've promoted in to their own team since Grosjean in 2009.

[southernstars]

And the F1 champion's son is named after the MotoGP champion, who lost out on the seat to said MotoGP champion's son.

And it was the F1 champion who gave the MotoGP champion's son his first kart.

The fact that the Doohans and the Schumachers are so connected will always be funny to me.

[southernstars]

I may be wrong, but I think Doohan will be the first Renault/Alpine junior they've promoted in to their own team since Grosjean in 2009.

Yes, he is, and I don't doubt that that played a big role.

[Gambelli]

I think he will surprise people, he had a spark that is just there. Likely to make a few errors but raw pace will give gasly headaches.

Apparently works like a dog, tireless work ethic to find last 2 tenths. Old man has a level head, good guidance.

 

Spot On!

 

This is exactly right and I have no hesitation sticking my neck out and saying that Jack will have some crashes, but some days where he looks genuinely rapid.

 

I rate Gasly ahead of Albon, but if he gets the opportunity to race 40 races alongside Gasly I absolutely guarantee he won't be down 40-zip in qualifying.

 

He had a great 2nd season in F3, and if you look at his F2 record, he entered a race/races at the end of his 2021 season and was instantly on the pace, his 2nd half of 2022 he looked dominant and had horrid luck, from memory he was taken out under safety car at Zandvoort, Clutch failure off the start from Pole at Monza, Lost a wheel whilst easily in command at the season finale.

 

I have no doubt he's going to show Piastri level pace, just most likely not as often.

[DJH63]

F1 teams are unlikely to simply take a punt BUT they can stick young drivers in older test cars and have real-world data from there (& maybe also sims) to use in the evaluation process. Clearly Jack stacks up well enough in that data for the team to believe in him. 

Briatore is his agent and Briatore is now running Alpine in everything but name - I’d wager this was ultimately the deciding factor 

[William Hunt]

Was it Vandoorne who some people on here had a massive hate boner for because he cheated at iRacing?

No, but there were two cheaters: Max Verstappen (unsportive behaviour, pushing others off track, crashing on purpose) and Daniel Abt (cheated).

[William Hunt]

Briatore is his agent and Briatore is now running Alpine in everything but name - I’d wager this was ultimately the deciding factor 

Are you sure about this? Why did Briatore try everything to get Sainz then, if he represents Doohan.

Edited by William Hunt, 24 August 2024 - 09:56.

[Frood]

No, but there were two cheaters: Max Verstappen (unsportive behaviour, pushing others off track, crashing on purpose) and Daniel Abt (cheated).

Yes, Vandoorne was cheating back in the rFactor 1 days. He was using a grip cheat IIRC (Myrvold might remember better than I do) and was incredibly petulant when he got caught.