Jack Doohan Survives 185mph Crash At Japanese GP

Jack Doohan escaped unharmed after a massive 185mph crash during practice at the Japanese Grand Prix on Friday, April 4, 2025. The Australian driver, participating in just his fourth Formula 1 race weekend, was driving full-throttle down the main straight towards the sweeping right-handed Turn 1 corner when disaster struck. Doohan’s Alpine car bottomed out, with the DRS rear wing still open, causing the vehicle to spin violently into the tyre barrier.

Despite the terrifying nature of the incident, the 22-year-old looked shaken but was quickly assessed at the FIA medical centre at Suzuka. Fortunately, Alpine confirmed that he had not suffered a concussion. "I'm not seeing driver error on that one," said a commentator as replays showed the car losing control without any apparent mistake from Doohan.

However, the crash inflicted significant damage on the car, leaving the Alpine mechanics with a massive overnight repair job to ensure it would be ready for qualifying on Saturday. The incident triggered a red flag, marking one of four stoppages in a bizarre second practice session that also saw two sessions suspended due to fires on the side of the track, resulting in a lengthy 22-minute delay.

Notably, Doohan did not participate in the earlier practice session on Friday, with Japanese driver and Alpine reserve Ryo Hirakawa taking his place for a one-hour outing. This meant that Doohan was already down on running time, and his session lasted just four laps before the crash.

Doohan's struggles in his rookie campaign have been compounded by the arrival of Argentine driver Franco Colapinto from Williams as a reserve, adding pressure to perform. Earlier in the season, Doohan crashed out on the opening lap of the Australian Grand Prix and finished outside the points at the Chinese Grand Prix, where he also received a penalty.

Meanwhile, the practice sessions saw McLaren setting the early pace, with Lando Norris clocking the fastest time in the first practice and Oscar Piastri leading the disrupted second practice. Norris currently leads the world championship by eight points heading into this weekend.

Yuki Tsunoda, making his debut for Red Bull, also had a solid opening day, finishing sixth-fastest in the first practice, just a tenth of a second off his teammate Max Verstappen. Lewis Hamilton was fourth-fastest for Ferrari in FP1, with teammate Charles Leclerc in third and Mercedes’ George Russell in second.

Qualifying is scheduled for 7am (BST) on Saturday, April 5, 2025, with the race set to begin at 6am on Sunday.

Jack Doohan's crash came less than ten minutes into the second free practice session, causing immediate concern among teams and drivers alike. His car lost control at the entry to Turn 1, a high-speed right-hander that tightens into Turn 2. Onboard replays did not indicate driver error, leading to speculation that the car might have bottomed out due to a strong tailwind into the corner, a factor that can severely affect handling.

Doohan was heard on the radio asking what had happened immediately after the crash, appearing shaken but confirming he was okay. He was assisted by the FIA medical team before gingerly climbing out of his wrecked car and making his way to the medical car. Isack Hadjar, who witnessed the crash, described it as a "massive crash" on team radio.

As the session resumed after the red flag, chaos continued to reign at Suzuka. The session featured four red flags, with additional stoppages caused by Fernando Alonso's off-track excursion and fires sparked by the cars on the grass surrounding the track. The session was halted for about 20 minutes due to Doohan's crash, and the disruptions continued with a small fire igniting from sparks just as the session was about to end.

Oscar Piastri emerged as the fastest driver in the chaotic session, clocking a time of 1:28.114, just 0.049 seconds ahead of teammate Lando Norris. Piastri and Norris have both won races in a dominant start to the season for McLaren, with Piastri's performance further solidifying the team's status as a force in the championship.

As the teams prepare for qualifying, Doohan's crash has raised questions about his ability to handle the pressure of F1 racing. With the added scrutiny from the arrival of Colapinto, the young driver will need to regroup quickly and make the most of the final practice session on Saturday morning.

In the context of the championship, Norris leads with eight points ahead of Verstappen, while Piastri sits in fourth place behind Mercedes' George Russell. The stakes are high as teams gear up for the race weekend at Suzuka, a track known for its challenging layout and passionate fans.

As the sun sets over the iconic circuit, all eyes will be on Doohan to see if he can recover from this setback and prove his worth in the highly competitive world of Formula 1.