Jack Doohan Receives Four Penalty Points at Chinese GP
Alpine’s Jack Doohan has been dealt a blow during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend, receiving four penalty points on his super-licence. The Australian rookie, who is still searching for his first regular points in Formula 1, incurred the penalties following incidents during both the main event and sprint race.
Consequences of Doohan’s Actions
The 22-year-old driver, son of motorcycle legend Mick Doohan, faced significant scrutiny after forcing Racing Bulls’ French rookie Isack Hadjar off the track during Sunday’s race while attempting to reclaim a position. This maneuver resulted in a 10-second penalty alongside the two penalty points awarded by the stewards, marking a challenging weekend for the Alpine team.
Sprint Race Incident Adds to Mishaps
Doohan’s troubles began on Saturday, where he collected two additional penalty points for a collision with Sauber’s Brazilian rookie, Gabriel Bortoleto, during the sprint race. Accumulating a total of four penalty points across the weekend means Doohan now needs to be careful, as amassing just 12 penalty points within a 12-month period could lead to a one-race ban.
Team Review and Future Considerations
Reflecting on the decisions made during the race, Doohan expressed disappointment. "It was unfortunate to receive the penalty that we did, and we will revisit it to ensure it does not happen again," he said in a team review, underscoring the importance of avoiding similar situations in the future.
Alpine’s Ongoing Struggles in the Championship
As the season progresses, Doohan’s position within the Alpine team has also come under scrutiny. With the recent signing of Argentine driver Franco Colapinto as the reserve, uncertainty looms over his future in a team that is yet to score a point this season.
The challenges continued for Alpine when Pierre Gasly was disqualified from 11th place after his car was found to be underweight, compounding the team’s troubles. Had Gasly’s disqualification not occurred, Alpine could have secured their first points of the season, especially as Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton also faced disqualification for technical infringements.
Alpine’s Point Drought Continues
Currently, Alpine finds itself at the bottom of the constructors’ standings, the only team without points after three races. As the drivers face the pressure of upcoming events, they will need to address both on-track performance and strategy to turn around their fortunes in the competitive world of Formula 1.
