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Alpine driver Jack Doohan faced a heart-stopping moment during Free Practice 2 at Suzuka on Friday when his car careened into the barriers at Turn 1. The high-speed spin occurred just five laps into the session, scattering debris across the track and leaving his Alpine with both left-side wheels torn off. Medical personnel swiftly extracted the Australian from the wreckage, though his immediate condition remained unclear.
The incident cast a shadow over an otherwise thrilling day at the Japanese Grand Prix, where McLaren’s Lando Norris topped FP1, followed by Mercedes’ George Russell and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda, freshly promoted from sister team Racing Bulls, also turned heads on the home soil by securing sixth place, just a tenth behind teammate Max Verstappen. As FP2 unfolded, all eyes shifted to Doohan’s fate—a stark reminder of Formula 1’s razor-thin margins between triumph and turmoil.
Jack Doohan’s Miraculous Escape
Despite the terrifying visuals of his mangled car, Jack Doohan emerged from the crash with no major injuries. The 21-year-old managed to unbuckle himself and climb out of the cockpit but required assistance from marshals to navigate the gravel trap, visibly shaken by the impact. Alpine’s engineering team immediately radioed to check on his well-being, to which Jack Doohan responded with characteristic brevity:
“I’m OK, yeah. What happened?”
Medical evaluations later confirmed the young driver avoided fractures or serious harm, though soreness and bruising are expected. Social media erupted with relief from fans, praising the structural integrity of modern F1 cars and the rapid response of Suzuka’s safety crew. However, the incident reignited speculation about Doohan’s future with Alpine.
Earlier this year, the team signed Argentine racer Franco Colapinto as a reserve driver, fueling rumors of an impending lineup change. ESPN sources suggest Alpine could fast-track Colapinto’s promotion as early as May’s Miami Grand Prix, heightening pressure on Jack Doohan to prove his resilience.
Notably, Doohan had already sacrificed track time in FP1 to accommodate Japanese reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa, a strategic move to engage local fans. Should Doohan face fitness concerns ahead of Saturday’s qualifying, Hirakawa remains on standby to step in—a scenario Alpine hopes to avoid as they assess their rookie’s recovery.
For now, the F1 community breathes a collective sigh of relief. Jack Doohan’s ability to walk away from such a violent crash underscores the sport’s advancements in safety, even as questions linger about his next steps in a career poised at a critical crossroads.
