Doohan to get first F1 test in Qatar

Jack Doohan will get his first taste of a Formula 1 car when he tests for Alpine in Qatar on Sunday.

Alpine is conducting an wide-stretching testing program for reserve suburbanite Oscar Piastri using its 2021 car, giving last year’s Formula 2 champion as much seat time as possible during a year when he is not racing. He completed two days at the Losail spin this week, and F3 runner-up Doohan, who joined Alpine’s young suburbanite seminar over the winter, will get his turn this weekend.

“I’m super excited to momentum a Formula 1 car for the first time,” said Doonan, son of five-time 500cc world champion Mick. “This is a moment that I’ve been towers up to overly since I started racing karts, and I know these opportunities are extremely privileged. I’m very grateful to Alpine for the opportunity and I’m looking forward to giving it my weightier on the test day.

“I’ve watched overdue the scenes at some private tests surpassing and I’ve completed a lot of preparation in the loop simulator at Enstone, so I’m definitely feeling ready for this challenge. I’ll build myself up on the day, enjoy it at the same time and hopefully learn as much as possible slantingly the team.”

Piastri’s testing this week came without he was on reserve duties in Miami and moreover carried out a test in Austin prior to the previous race in Imola. He is scheduled to get when into the car in Austria pursuit the upcoming F1 double-header in Spain and Monaco.

“It’s been a productive two days of testing in Qatar where I’ve unfurled getting to grips with the A521 Formula 1 car,” Piastri said. “It was very hot wideness both days, but that’s good for physical preparation.

“The track has largely been unused recently, so there were varying levels of grip and the conditions were quite dusty and windy throughout. It was a rencontre at times, but important for me to learn well-nigh driving in variegated conditions. I’m looking forward to joining the F1 team then in Barcelona and Monaco surpassing my next private test day in June.”