Under F1 spotlight, Jack Doohan shines at Spa
Twenty-two races in, Jack Doohan is finally at the forefront of Formula 2 after his first feature race victory.
Jack Doohan with his first FIA Formula 2 feature race winner’s trophy. (Virtuosi Racing)
"Yeah, it took a while," said the Australian on Sunday.
Nineteen-year-old Doohan has experienced the highs and lows of motorsport in his debut F2 season, with four podiums and 53 laps led before heading into the Belgian Grand Prix.
From a second-place feature race finish in Barcelona, to his two recent sprint race victories at Silverstone and Budapest, Doohan welcomes the admitted growth he has shown so far this year.
"It’s taken a while but I’m super happy because I’ve grown so much as a driver, especially from where I came from in Round 1 where I had the same opportunity," said Doohan.
"I’m just very thankful to the team, all my supporters that have given me the opportunity to show my performance here this weekend.”
Storming from fourth to second on the opening lap, the Virtuosi driver says while his start wasn't spectacular, it was a good, clean getaway which allowed him to race with the championship leader.
He admits that the bold strategy decision to pit early was his idea.
From the outside, it is emblematic of his year of self-growth.
With the car performing well underneath him, the test for Doohan is his mentality, something he proved on Sunday.
"I decided on my own that I was going to keep going," said Doohan, initially convinced in the longer initial stint.
"But then when he stayed out, I decided to box."
"When they said we might have the chance for the undercut I was stoked."
"Coming out of turn 1 and seeing that we'd done it, I was really happy for the boys."
Doohan on the podium at Spa. (Formula Motorsport Limited)
It was also a momentous weekend for Doohan off-track, entering the frame for at least a reserve position in Formula 1.
An Alpine Academy driver, Doohan's position has been elevated with the newfound contract dispute surrounding fellow Aussie Oscar Piastri.
Piastri is the French team's current reserve driver and was slated for a 2023 drive with the team, but rejected the position in favour of an offer from McLaren.
The feature race victory on the return from summer break was just what Doohan needed: placing him in the spotlight in front of the F1 paddock, a proven belief in his own abilities, and most of all, valuable points in the championship fight.
Doohan is fourth in the standings on 121 points, just eight points behind fellow Alpine Academy member Logan Sargeant.
The final standings may well decide who Alpine promotes, should contract proceedings with Piastri fail.
Doohan has either been fortified by the pressure or locked it out.
Privately, Doohan told his team the victory was "just the beginning," before sharing a podium shoey with engineer Colin Sommerville.
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