Formula 1: Australian rookie Jack Doohan laments Daniel Ricciardo’s absence for Australian Grand Prix

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Formula 1: *********** rookie Jack Doohan laments Daniel Ricciardo’s absence for *********** Grand Prix

Son-of-a-gun Jack Doohan says he soaked in plenty of advice from West *********** pace ace Daniel Ricciardo in 2024 but still wishes the eight-time race winner could line up as a third Aussie on the grid at Albert Park on Sunday.

For the second year in a row, the *********** Grand Prix will feature two *********** drivers on the starting grid: Doohan and McLaren prodigy Oscar Piastri.

Piastri raced alongside Ricciardo in 2024, but since being replaced at RB mid-season, Ricciardo has taken an indefinite break from the sport and, until recently, the public limelight.

However, the West Aussie’s advice is sure to be ringing in Doohan’s mind ahead of his first home Grand Prix. The son of 500cc motorcycle world champion Mick is lining up for his first full season in the hot seat, having debuted in the final round of last season.

“(Ricciardo and I) spoke quite a bit at the end of last year,” Doohan said.

“I saw him when I was out in LA before heading to (Las) Vegas as well; we caught up briefly there. But since I haven’t had a lot of communication recently.

“He has been doing his thing, enjoying his post-F1 life. Not having to deal with everything going on as it normally would be for him.

“It is great to have another Aussie on the grid. It would have been amazing with DR (Ricciardo) still here (as well), but at least there are still two of us.

Camera IconJack Doohan of Australia and Alpine F1 is interviewed in the Press Conference during day two of F1 Testing. Credit: Clive Rose/Getty Images

“Oscar has been doing exceptional, especially last year, and the McLaren car was fast. Hopefully, we’re able to challenge him in the near future and it’s great to be on the grid with him.”

However, despite having just one race to his name, Doohan is already facing intense pressure to hold his seat after Alpine secured Franco Colapinto as a reserve driver over the winter off-season.

Colapinto stunned in a nine-race stint with Williams in late 2024, with speculation swirling that Alpine bosses want him in a seat sooner rather than later.

Given that Doohan is a fellow rookie who has replaced Esteban Ocon, who moved to Haas, he is the easiest option for making way for the star Argentine.

The *********** Grand Prix on Sunday will see Doohan and Piastri lined up together for the first time since the last two F2 rounds in 2021 before Piastri jumped to F1 as a reserve driver.

The pair also both came through the Alpine Academy and started their careers in F1 as reserve drivers for the French-based team.

“We are both driving for teams based in the ***, yet far apart,” Doohan said.

“We are not exactly as close as we would be if we were in Australia, but we get along well.”

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