Jack Doohan walked away unharmed after a dramatic crash in FP2, as Alpine confirms the incident was caused by driver error.
Alpine F1 has confirmed that Jack Doohan’s crash during Free Practice 2 at the Japanese Grand Prix was caused by a driver error, not a technical failure.
The Australian lost control of his A525 in a high-speed incident after failing to close the DRS (Drag Reduction System) heading into Turn 1. The team made it clear: the crash was a result of misjudgment, not a mechanical issue.
“We’re all relieved Jack walked away unharmed from that crash in FP2 and that he’s okay following precautionary medical checks,” said Team Principal Oliver Oakes.
“It was a misjudgment not to shut the DRS before the first corner. Mistakes like this happen—Jack knows that, and we’re confident he and the team will bounce back tomorrow. The crew now has a big job ahead to rebuild the car.”
Oakes also acknowledged room for improvement: “Performance-wise, there’s still work to do. Pierre had a solid run in FP2, and Ryō did a great job with the morning program. We tested various setup directions between the cars and now have a clearer path ahead for qualifying.”
Doohan: “I’ll Learn From It”
Jack Doohan issued a statement shortly after the crash:
“First of all, I’m okay. It was a big hit and it caught me off guard. But I’ll learn from it. The team has a lot of work to do to get the car ready for tomorrow, and I really appreciate their effort. I’m fully focused on Saturday now and preparing for FP3 and qualifying.”
Gasly: “Tight Midfield Battle Ahead”
With Doohan out of action, Pierre Gasly carried the load for Alpine during both practice sessions. He finished P14 in FP1 and improved to P9 in FP2.
“I’m glad Jack’s okay—that was a huge crash,” Gasly commented.
“Our day was quite productive despite a few interruptions. We managed to tick off most of the program, tried different setup options, and the car feels in a decent place. More track time would’ve helped, but everyone’s in the same boat. The midfield is extremely close—just a few tenths separating several cars—so tomorrow’s qualifying should be intense.”
Hirakawa Enjoys Home Debut
Japanese driver Ryō Hirakawa had his first run in the A525 during FP1 and relished the opportunity to drive in front of his home crowd at Suzuka.
“It was an amazing experience to take part in FP1 at my home race. I know this track very well, so I felt confident right away and we followed the team’s plan smoothly. We gathered good data and the car felt fast—it was a great experience on such a legendary circuit,” said Hirakawa.
“I’m also really glad to hear Jack is okay after his accident.”
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Doohan’s DRS Blunder Triggers Alpine FP2 Crash Drama
Doohan’s DRS Blunder Triggers Alpine FP2 Crash Drama