Saudi disqualification "hurt badly" says Jack Doohan
Jack Doohan has faced plenty of bad luck so far in the 2022 FIA Formula 2 season, but says he hopes to bounce back after fighting through the grid in Saudi Arabia.
Jack Doohan in the paddock in Saudi Arabia. (Virtuosi Racing)
The Australian made his way back into the points in the feature race in Jeddah after being disqualified from qualifying and starting last on the grid.
"P20 to P9 was the best we could do," said Doohan.
"Going for the alternative strategy we were hoping for a late safety car that unfortunately never came."
"Our pace was strong however, setting the fastest lap by half a second."
Doohan started the season on a high with his team's fourth successive round 1 pole but was taken out of contention while in the provisional lead of the feature race.
In Jeddah, Doohan was third-fastest in qualifying, proving that the pace of his Virtuosi was not a round one fluke.
With the session red-flagged several times, multiple drivers struggled to maintain their fuel load, and Doohan did not have enough to provide a scrutineering sample, meaning he was disqualified from the session completely.
The disqualification dropped him to the rear of the grid for both the sprint race and feature race in an act of double punishment.
The Alpine junior driver was then caught-out on a restart in the sprint race, colliding with Logan Sargeant as the pair accelerated around the final corner into the stagnant pack.
Doohan recovered on Sunday to claim points in the feature race after climbing to ninth position and the fastest lap.
"The disqualification hurt us badly this weekend, but I'm sure Virtuosi and I will bounce back to where we belong in Imola."
Doohan sits fourteenth in the championship standings with eleven rounds remaining in the 2022 FIA Formula 2 season.
