Jack Doohan blasts F2 driving standards on confident return to podium at Silverstone

Jack Doohan says he is regaining confidence as he returns to the FIA Formula 2 podium for the first time since the Saudi Arabian grand prix.

Jack Doohan celebrates third place in the FIA Formula 2 sprint race at Silverstone. (Joe Portlock / Getty Images / Formula Motorsport Limited)

The Australian spent the latter half of the sprint race going wheel-to-wheel with Ollie Bearman for the final podium position, emerging on top after a difficult battle.

Doohan says that the fight with the PREMA driver left him questioning the driving standards of the Formula 2 field.

"I really had to be very smart because I didn’t want to commit to any of those moves, I probably wouldn't be sitting here right now, I'd probably be in the gravel trap," said Doohan.

"Luckily in the end, he was trying to close the door on me, but ended up making mistakes so I was able to get past with no damage, which was nice."

"Then, I could see my pace immediately dropped by two and a half seconds per lap, what I had the whole time. Just unfortunately, it wasn't as easy to get past as I would have liked."

Jack Doohan (right), second-placed Theo Pourchaire, and winner Frederik Vesti celebrate after the FIA Formula 2 sprint race at Silverstone. (Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images / Formula Motorsport Limited)

Doohan was unable to pass Bearman after the initial restart despite having a clear pace advantage as the pair battled for fourth. Fighting side-by-side as if their cars were attached, the pair swallowed Isack Hadjar and moved into third and fourth, with the battle resuming for the final spot on the podium.

Doohan spent a lot of the battle on the radio to his team complaining he was having to take evasive action to avoid Bearman, a criticism he repeated post-race.

"How he drives his car’s up to him."

"Obviously, I will let the stewards dictate that really, but occasionally by the time I'd get to the exit, I wouldn't be exactly alongside because mid-corner when I'd get alongside, he would have a snap and go to crash into me, so I'd have to get out. And then, he would think it's acceptable to push me then off track."

"That is not really the standard that I choose to drive by, but he's a racing driver and he's fighting for a podium position, so not saying I wouldn't expect anything less, but maybe a little bit cleaner next time would be great."

"It would have been great to get past six laps earlier and be in with Théo Pourchaire and keep the fight with him."

"But at the end of the day, I'm happy to get six points and another points finish, and to be on the podium is just a bonus."

It is a huge bonus for Doohan, who had glimpses of form early in the year with a second place finish in Jeddah before falling into a mid-season lull.

He admits the in-season test in Barcelona re-invigorated him and his connection with the Invicta Virtuosi car, and he has delivered with successive top-ten results, returning to the Doohan we have seen in previous years. Fifth and sixth in Spain, seventh and fourth last weekend in Austria, and now a return to the podium in Silverstone.

"I feel in a good window I have to say, finally having something."

"I'm gaining confidence back, it is nice and it's obviously round nine so it's quite late, but I'm hoping we can keep this up and take advantage of the guys in front when we can."

"I have a Formula 1 run planned, I'm sure it will be announced in the near future."

"I'm very thankful for Alpine and all their support and what they've done for me and standing by me in the difficult times."

Doohan is ninth in the championship with five rounds remaining to show his form in the remainder of the 2023 FIA Formula 2 season.

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