Jack Doohan debuts in F1
Posted on December 5, 2024 Tags: Abu Dhabi
All-in for young Aussie this weekend
Smiling Assassin – (We Hope)
JACK DOOHAN’S STOCKS have been handed a huge boost this week and he will make his F1 debut for French race team Alpine at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final race of the 24-event season.
The 21-year-old from the Gold Coast, son of five-time motorcycle legend Mick Doohan, was not scheduled to make his entry until the 2025 season opener in Melbourne in March next year.
Now Jack Doohan becomes Australia’s newest F1 driver, in a move that allows Esteban Ocon – the man he has replaced – to join his new team Haas in next week’s scheduled end of season Pirelli test around the Yas Marina Circuit.
It is an indication of just how much faith his team bosses have in the young man as Alpine currently sits sixth on 59 points in the money-laden constructors’ championship, ahead of Haas currently on 54.
RB, Daniel Ricciardo’s former team, is eighth going in the Abu Dhabi.
Huge amount of dollars up for grabs this weekend!
Talk is the difference between finishing sixth and eighth is estimated at between $AUD30 and $45 million.
So, if any more pressure is needed, that thought certainly gives young Jack Doohan something else to be concerned about as hurtles toward the biggest weekend of his life around the picturesque Yas Marina precinct – at 300+km/h.
Jack Doohan won 2024 F2 at Yas Marina
And Jack does have an additional factor in his favour before the biggest test of his life – he won last year’s Formula 2 feature race at Yas Marina!
It was a dominant performance. Starting from pole, Jack Doohan led the race from start to finish, finishing better than three seconds ahead of second-placed rival Victor Martins.
FIA President under the pump
A defiant FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has dismissed talk of turmoil within the governing body, telling Formula 1 drivers it is “none of their business” how he runs things.
He might be the president of the FIA, but he would seem to the treading on dodgy ground by getting the drivers offside.
They are, after all, F1’s prime foot soldiers who are the lifeblood of this extraordinary sport, the pinnacle of world motor racing.
FIA founded in 1904
The FIA, or Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, is the governing body for many motor racing events, across the globe, including the prestigious Formula One World Championship. Founded in 1904, its mission is to ensure the safety and fairness of motorsports around the world, setting the rules and regulations, overseeing race operations, and working on road safety initiatives. It recognises 244 international motoring and sporting organizations from 146 countries.
Spotlight focused on F1 President
Ben Sulayem has found himself under the spotlight recently in the wake of a host of high-level departures from the FIA, including former F1 race director Niels Wittich replaced by former F2 and F3 race direct Rui Marques, from Portugal.
Much has been said about the recent open letter from the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, headed by Mercedes gun George Russell, which demanded he start treating them like adults.
That reference was aimed squarely at the FIA president’s reaction the recent well publicised swearing controversy involving Max Verstappen (pictured above with the FIA boss), who was ordered to perform community service for using the F-word during a press conference.
Whether or not Max has actually performed that ‘punishment’, I’ve been unable to confirm.
Credit where it’s due
Mohammed Ben Sulayem does have an impressive sporting background.
A former rally driver, he won an extraordinary 14 titles in the Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) from 1983 to 2002, making him among the most successful drivers in that title’s history. He drove for teams like Toyota and Ford, with his most successful years at were at Ford, where he won seven consecutive titles from 1996 to 2002. He also competed in the World Rally Championship where Spain’s Carlos Sainz (father of Ferrari’s and soon-to-be Williams’ driver Carlos Jnr) is a living legend. He played a key role in organizing the first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2009 and has held various leadership positions within the FIA.
The Dubai-born 63 year-old Ben Sulayem also is fortunate enough to own an extensive collection of tasty cars, including Swedish supercars Koenigsegg Agera RS (tested at 457kmh/284mph), and a Regera. As well as a garage large enough to also house a bunch of Ferraris, Porsches, McLarens.
FIA President “unmoved” by recent criticisms
Mohammed Ben Sulayem told Autosport.com that he was unmoved by any recent criticisms or suggestions the FIA was facing chaos.
Asked specifically about the GPDA’s calls, he responded: “None of their business. Sorry. With all respect, I am a driver. I respect the drivers. Let them go and concentrate on what they do best, which is race.”
He refused to elaborate on any of the background surrounding the recent dismissals of senior figures within the FIA – as he claimed his priority was to serve his member clubs and not explain himself to the outside world.
While there had been major headlines in recent weeks about the way the FIA was running things, he said all he cared about was making the governing body better.
He also made a few comments which may yet come back to haunt him.
While it is unthinkable that F1 drivers would rebel to the point of standing down to go against a particular edict these days, there are several precedents where those behind the wheel have taken firm control to achieve their objectives. Here’s just one standout!
The Notorious Nürburgring
One of the most extraordinary happenings in motorsport history took place on July 1, 1970 at the then notorious Nürburgring Circuit, located in the Eifel region of Germany, scheduled to host the German F1 Grand Prix on August 2, that year.
The race was due to run over the original track – known as the Nordschleife (North Loop) – then 22.8 kms long and featuring an amazing 154 corners.
It was one of the longest and most challenging circuits in F1 history, known for its challenging and dangerous nature, often referred to as the “Green Hell” by drivers.
On that fateful Summer’s Day in July, drivers met and strongly voiced the concerns they and a multitude of fellow drivers had about the dangers of the Nürburgring.
The Nürburgring, known for its treacherous layout, was deemed too dangerous without further modifications. This race highlighted the ongoing concerns and improvements in safety within Formula One.
While the drivers were used to their complaints falling on deaf ears, this time they finally insisted on necessary safety improvements. And stood their ground.
Drivers insisted on track changes
Led by now legendary Scot Jackie Stewart, drivers from across the globe had long complained about the track’s dangerous conditions. They demanded improvements like better barriers and medical facilities.
When the track owners refused to make these changes, the drivers stood firm, leading to the race being moved 215 kilometres away to the Hockenheimring, which was already equipped with safety barriers.
Despite it being very short notice, the will was there. And perhaps the drivers were beginning to understand the serious power they had!
Most important for the sport, the German F1 Grand Prix went ahead on the advertised day of August 2, 1970!
It was stands such as this that slowly – but surely – forced some track owners and operators to finally begin to appreciate that safety really was their paramount responsibility.
It was indeed a signal moment in motorsport history
It was the first time the German Grand Prix was held at Hockenheim, and the venue has since hosted it a further 30+ F1 races.
Jochen Rindt piloted a special Lotus
German born Austrian Jochen Rindt drove his #21 Lotus-Ford to win that extraordinary race in Hockenheim, with Belgian Jacky Ickx’s #31 Ferrari, less than a second behind.
The race was held in dry conditions, which allowed the drivers to push their cars to the limit. The race was all about pure racing skill and car performance.
Kiwi Denny Hulme, the 1967 Formula One World Champion known for his determination and skill anywhere, brought his #4 McLaren-Ford home in third.
For Jochen Rindt this was his fourth consecutive Grand Prix win, showcasing his skill and the superiority of the Lotus 722. After Hockenheim he strengthened his lead in the Drivers’ Championship.
Tragically, it was Jochen’s last win before his fatal accident at the Italian Grand Prix later that year.
Despite that tragedy, he still won the 1970 Championship posthumously, the only driver to do so in Formula One history.
Denny Hulme died at the wheel of a racing car at Bathurst in 1992 while driving a BMW M3. He succumbed to a heart attack at the age of 56.
Jacky Ickx, meanwhile, turns 80 (same age as me) on January 1, 2025. Among his long list of achievements, he won an extraordinary six 24Hrs of Le Mans, and twice finished runner-up in the F1 World Championship. So, a very happy birthday to you, Jacky – a true gentleman and motorsports legend!
Jochen’s revolutionary Lotus 72
The Lotus 72, driven by Jochen Rindt, was a revolutionary car. It introduced features like side-mounted radiators and a wedge-shaped design, which set the standard for future Formula One cars. This design contributed significantly to Jochen’s success during the 1970 season. It was the forerunner of many design changes.
To Abu Dhabi for the grand finale
The Abu Dhabi weekend brings down the curtain on the longest ever Formula 1 season, during which the sport travelled the world taking in 24 rounds.
The stunning Yas Marina circuit has hosted motor racing’s blue riband category 15 times, twelve of them rounding off the year.
On four occasions this Grand Prix has decided the outcome of one or both championship titles, in 2021 the two of them and in 2010, 2014 and 2016, just the Drivers’.
Thanks to significant changes to the track layout introduced in 2021, the 5.281km track is much faster and flowing, with several overtaking opportunities.
Yas Marina surface offers little grip
As has long been the case at Yas Marina, Pirelli ‘s three softest compounds are selected for the event – the C3 Hard, C4 Medium and C5 Soft.
It’s expected the red-banded softs most likely will feature only in qualifying, with the Medium and Hard under the spotlight – in every sense of the word – given Abu Dhabi is the third consecutive night race.
In general, the forces exerted on the tyres are in the medium to low range, because of the lack of high-speed corners. The surface offers little grip and its level of abrasiveness is average for the season.
Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi
Temperatures always play a a major role in any motorsport. But here at Yas Marina, it’s unusual that two of the three free practice sessions take place in daylight, while FP2 and the race get underway at sunset – with all of qualifying taking place at night.
So, track conditions can change quickly as temperatures drop. They also will evolve rapidly as the track rubbers in, especially on the first two days, helped by the events’ three support categories this weekend – F4 UAE, F1 Academy and F2.
Pirelli expects graining to be a significant factor where overtaking is possible, and a two-stop strategy seems preferable, like last year.
The undercut is most effective for the Yas Marina Circuit. But, for a one-stop to work, it requires a great deal of tyre management to limit performance drop off.
Max heading for Lewis’ record
The most successful driver at Abu Dhabi is Lewis Hamilton with five wins to his name. Max Verstappen could equal that number on Sunday as he has already won here four times in a row, from 2020 to 2023.
Before Sunday’s race, the Dutchman will receive the Pirelli Pole Position Award of the Year, for securing the most poles this season.
As for the teams, Red Bull leads the way on seven wins here, ahead of Mercedes on 6.
Only two other teams have won in Abu Dhabi: Lotus with Kimi Raikkonen in 2013 and McLaren with Lewis in the inaugural event in 2009.
Special Pirelli Testing
While Sunday night marks the end of racing for 2024 but not the end of track action. All ten teams will stay on at the Yas Marina circuit for an exceptionally busy group Pirelli test day on Tuesday 10 December. They will each field two cars: one for the rookies, on the Abu Dhabi compound 2024 tyres, with regular drivers running versions of Pirelli’s 2025 tyres, developed over the year with the teams.
RACE SCHEDULE
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
PERTH WA Time
Yas Marina Circuit | 06 – 08 Dec
P1 Friday 6th December 17:30
P2 Friday 6th December 21:00
P3 Saturday 7th December 18:30
Qualifying
Saturday 7th December 22:00
Race
Sunday 8th December 21:00
NEXT EVENT
Australian F1 Grand Prix
Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit
Melbourne
March 13 to March 16, 2025
EDITED by AC
Leave a Reply