Brutal video exposes Aussie F1 ace Jack Doohan’s big secret at Japanese Grand Prix
Aussie Jack Doohan didn’t want to talk to reporters at the Japanese Grand Prix and brutal footage shows why he was hiding a secret.
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A brutal new video shows Aussie Jack Doohan couldn’t use his left arm during the entire Japanese Grand Prix.
The Alpine driver was fortunate to walk away from a massive 331 kilometres-per-hour crash in the second practice session at the Suzuka circuit on Friday and openly didn’t want to talk about the incident with media as the weekend progressed.
The 22-year-old is under huge pressure to retain his seat with the team after crashing out in the Australian Grand Prix and finishing 15th in China a fortnight ago.
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He continued to struggle in qualifying on Saturday, but showed plenty of fight to climb up to 15th in the final standings in a race where teammate Pierre Gasly finished 13th.
Footage has now emerged that showed just how tough it was for the Aussie to recover from the Friday incident.
An incredible clip of Doohan being unable to use his left arm as he exited his car at the end of the race has stunned F1 fans with many in awe at how he was able to finish the race with such a serious-looking injury.
Doohan did his best to hide the issue throughout the weekend, but the video has raised concerns he should never been allowed to compete.
You can watch the footage in the video player at the top of the page
In the clip, Doohan is stuck in his car after attempting to wiggle his way out with only his right arm supporting his weight.
However, a mechanic and former teammate Esteban Ocon then come to his aid to help pull him out of the cockpit.
Ocon, who now drives with Haas, walked away with his arm around Doohan’s back, appearing to give him some level of support.
Doohan was also holding the arm up in a lame fashion as he walked off the track.
The comment he made on his team radio at the end of the race showed no signs that he was walking wounded.
“Hopping out, thank you again,” he said.
The problem is he wasn’t able to just hop out and F1 fans have been asking how he was approved to race given the issue.
After watching his Alpine splinter into pieces when he want into the wall at high speed on Friday, many fans were fearful he had suffered a serious injury, but it didn’t take long for the team to issue a statement to say Doohan had not suffered a concussion during the incident.
Asked how he was faring after Friday’s crash, Doohan was blunt: “Pushing through. I don’t want to use any excuses or anything like that.
“But that’s why we train, let’s say, and keep our heads in a good place.
“I think maybe Q2 could’ve been on the cards, I know I had to continue to make big steps on every lap, to be honest I made a small mistake.
“If I didn’t do it I probably would’ve made Q2, if it worked, so I can’t really be too mad or upset about that.
“It’s just the circumstances we’re in.”
There has been speculation the Aussie forgot to close his DRS (drag reduction system) prior to the crash.
The DRS boosts acceleration and top speed by opening a flap on the rear wing around certain parts of the track, immediately slashing downforce.
It’s up to the driver to open it when they enter the designated zone and closes automatically when a driver hits the brakes.
But at some circuits the DRS zone doesn’t lead into a big braking zone.
In those cases it’s up to the driver to manually close their rear wing with enough time for the airflow to reattach and load the car with the downforce needed to take the corner.
Suzuka is one of those circuits, with the DRS zone down the front straight leading to a flat-out right-hander.
On-board replays show Doohan’s thumb reaching for his blue DRS button after turning onto the straight.
The DRS light subsequently illuminates on the top-right corner of his steering wheel.
Prior to Saturday’s opening qualifying session, Mick Doohan was seen having a chat with his son, with Sky Sports commentator Simon Lazenby observing: “There he is having a word with his son. (Saying) ‘C’mon son, you’ve got it, you’ve got it in you’.”
Meanwhile, in Sunday’s race, won by world champion Max Verstappen, it was Aussie Oscar Piastri that emerged as the biggest talking point.
His McLaren team appeared to botch a chance at victory when the Australian was told to hold back and not attempt to get past teammate Lando Norris in order to have a crack at overtaking Verstappen.
In the end the race finished the way it started with the four-time champion holding off his rivals to claim his first win of the season.
Originally published as Brutal video exposes Aussie F1 ace Jack Doohan’s big secret at Japanese Grand Prix
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