Jack Doohan can thank the tropical cyclone Alfred if his Formula 1 dream survives beyond the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne this weekend.
Last week, Doohan was limited to his Gold Coast's house for three days, while former tropical cyclone Alfred hit the coast of Queensland.
Instead of interrupting his preparations, Doohan said that the forced inactivity time allowed him a rare opportunity to “disconnect.”
Cyclone Alfred emerged in the Sea of Coral on February 22, 2025, and finally hits Brisbane in early March after an unusual trajectory to the west.
The storm caused significant damage to Gold Coast, with winds that exceeded 100 km/hypos that were approaching 200 mm in some areas.
Iconic beaches such as Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach suffered extensive erosion, severely impacting the tourism industry in the region, which faced estimated losses of $ 137 million due to the reduction of the number of visitors.
The Australian Jack Doohan focused before his first Grand Prix of origin in Melbourne on Sunday
The Gold Coast beaches severely damaged by former tropical cyclone Alfred who hit last week
Doohan is under pressure from the Alpine Franco Colapinto reserve to keep its place
More than 132,000 houses in the southeast of Queensland were affected by power cuts, leaving residents without electricity for days.
However, in the midst of this chaos, Doohan found calm, saying that it was “pleasant not to have to leave”, using the inactivity time to prepare mentally for what is coming.
With only 22 years, Doohan has spent almost all his life preparing during moments like these.
His motoring trip began shortly after being able to walk, strongly influenced by the legend of Formula 1, Michael Schumacher, who gave Jack already his sister his first karts.
It was Schumacher's breath that put Doohan in a four -wheeled trajectory instead of following the motorcycle legacy of his famous father, Mick.
Doohan quickly rose through the Australian Karting scene, winning the Cik Stars of Karting series and the Queensland Kart championship at age 11, then ensuring an Australian Kart Championship the following year.
Karting's international success soon continued, which led Doohan to make the transition to open wheels in Europe.
In 2021, Doohan firmly settled in the radar of the team 1 teams at the end of Second in the FIA formula 3 championship, progressing the third in Formula 2 next year.
His impressive results called Alpine's attention, who signed it as a reserve driver, and finally promoted it to a full -time formula seat by 2025 after the game of Esteban Ocon to Haas.
However, Doohan's trip to Formula 1 has been far from being simple. Despite having one of Australia's most recognized last names in motor racing, Jack faces immediate pressure to retain his seat.
The Alpine firm of Franco Colapint as a reserve driver has intensified the scrutiny, with the controversial executive advisor Flavio Briatore, according to the reports, favor the Argentine about the Australian.
Colapinto arrived at the headlines last season for a period of nine races for Williams, pressing more about Doohan to provide strong actions immediately.
Alpine seems to have given Doohan only three races to prove her worth, starting this weekend in Melbourne, along with the experienced French teammate Pierre Gasly.
When asked about this pressure during Thursday's press conference in Albert Park, Doohan responded calmly: “I have not been thinking about any of that because it makes no sense to think about rumors or comment.”
“I have a contract for at least this year, if not more, so I look forward to many Grands prix at home.”
Anyway, Doohan recognizes the hard realities of Formula 1.
Doohan carries the famous last name, with his father becoming an Australian icon on two wheels
Doohan is his son's greatest defender and believes that his competitive spirit can lead him on a long way
Doohan will align to Alpine in the qualification on Saturday from 4pm AEDT in Albert Park
'I have to do every time I am in the car. We have four reserve drivers, and the four probably want my seat, and if not Pierre's too, “he said.
Australian fellow driver Oscar Piastri, now established in McLaren and a contender of the title, welcomed Doohan to the Paddock of F1, but warned him about the steep learning curve.
“Time will be something important and try to learn,” Piastri said. “Jack has demonstrated through his Junior career that he deserves a chance.”
Doohan's father, Mick, is still his greatest defender, firmly believing in his son's competitive spirit.
“The second was never an option for Jack,” Mick said in a 2022 interview.
“Jack is not happy if he is not winning, and when things are not going well, it is not” that we did the best of us, “there must be a reason.”