Daniel Ricciardo’s McLaren exit might have supplied one other younger Aussie pace demon a golden Components 1 alternative, however one other rising racing prodigy has lamented the lack of one of many sports activities position fashions.
By the point Ricciardo makes an attempt to make a return to the grid in 2024, there could be three Aussies within the discipline after Jack Doohan continued his exceptional rise by means of the ranks.
The 19-year-old made his observe debut in Mexico behind the wheel for Alpine, the place he’s an Academy driver, on Saturday morning.
Son of five-time legendary MotoGP champion Mick, Doohan slotted into Esteban Ocon’s seat for the opening observe session of the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix because the paddock took a gander on the rising stars of racing.
Doohan recorded the nineteenth quickest time and put himself in a primary place to take the reserve driver spot beforehand occupied by fellow countryman Oscar Piastri.
Doohan’s rise by means of the ranks has been impressed by legends corresponding to his father and Michael Schumacher, who kickstarted his karting profession, however he additionally advised Sky Sports activities he was upset Ricciardo didn’t have a seat for subsequent season.
“There’s a number of unhappiness for Daniel. He’s been the only Australian on the grid for a few years now since Mark left,” he stated.
“Lots of people are devastated. They’re actually behind Daniel, his character inside and out of doors the automotive, and the keenness he brings to the paddock and the followers is basically good for our sport.
“Hopefully (Ricciardo’s time without work) is for the suitable causes, and he can come again in a 12 months or two, and it will likely be for the higher.”
Doohan revealed he tried to comply with in his father’s footsteps, however a damaged leg satisfied him to stay to 4 wheels.
“I broke my leg after I was 5 using bikes – I feel that scared me,” Doohan stated.
“So I sort of stepped apart from the bike and went in direction of 4 wheels for a few years as a result of certainly one of my buddies was driving a kart. I’d had a kart fortunately gifted to me by Michael Schumacher as a result of he and pop had been fairly shut pals; they had been neighbours in Monaco.
“He got here one time to our house in Australia, and we had a kart observe there, so he gifted myself and my sister a go-kart for, I feel … my third birthday; it was fairly cool.
“As soon as I used to be seven, I obtained again on the 4 wheels, and I’m fairly grateful for it, clearly as a result of I’m manner too huge and huge to be on two wheels.”
Ricciardo’s observe classes continued the disappointing development of the season, ending eleventh quickest in FP1, fifth slowest of the common drivers.
FP2 was not significantly better, with each McLarens outdoors the highest 12.