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Motorsport

Thoughts on Red Bull looking to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda and what does it mean for Franco Colapinto and Jack Doohan?

by Sports Benches

Over the last 12 to 24 hours, there was a huge twist coming from Red Bull Racing about them looking to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda ahead of the Japanese round just after two races into the new season.

Yes, Max Verstappen is still leading the pack and currently 4 x world drivers’ champ but at the same time, he needs someone who can push this team to the metal – and seems Liam Lawson isn’t that man up for the task unfortunately.

I get it because he’s a New Zealander as someone who personally enjoyed the best of NZ sport too. 

You can also tell he made a good impression first and foremost but again, his best finishes were only 9th like three times – nothing more when RB’s goal is to battle for regular wins, podiums & Top 7s. 

Plus, he doesn’t really have the sponsors to bring himself in to the table having only made 13 Formula 1 races to his name.

While everyone can’t be a Ollie Bearman or an Andrea Kimi Antonelli, it seems Red Bull may have regret snubbing Franco Colapinto as they are now reconsidering him for their sister team at Racing Bulls – should Yuki replace Lawson immediately.

Again, he’s fast and may have crashed at times but he is also the guy who can bring a bit of everything that Liam wasn’t able to do in between both Red Bull squads.

Sure Flavio would want to think about this so he can at least get his money back and have someone like Franco drive a slightly better car with a decent enough engine than the one he is currently waiting on right in front of Jack Doohan right now which has a bang average Renault engine.

Franco going to Racing Bulls would take the pressure off Doohan no doubt who continues to match Gasly with raw pace in practice and qualifying, although he needs to be a bit more careful so he can keep his cards to his chest in the hope of staying at Alpine for a long times. Plus, Pierre loves having him by his side as also hoping this partnership doesn’t end that quick all because of Flavio’s admiration of Franco.

So all in all, Red Bull should pay Alpine & also Williams whatever it takes to give Franco a chance in Yuki’s spot at Racing Bulls alongside fellow rookie Isack Hadjar, who also seems to show some good potential so far following his step up from F2.

F1 will always a cut-throat sport as Liam had his chance but sure he will end up at either Cadillac, Haas-Ferrari or even Audi at some point when going back to Racing Bulls for the third time may not make much sense for someone who’s already been there with some success unlike Yuki.

Also, instead of trolling Jack all day long to make Franco look good, let’s give him a chance still when the team isn’t even up front right now as he will get there to where he wants to be with time.

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Motorsport

Formula 1: Pierre Gasly not bad once again just outside Top 10 with the new PU fit and another odd cornering mistake coming from Jack Doohan in 16th at Shanghai

by Sports Benches

Not much going on today in Shanghai from Jack other than the new PU fit not helping him much in between 14th to 16th when Pierre wasn’t bad just outside Top 10 while he could’ve gambled a bit with the mediums where Ollie Bearman and Lance Stroll was able to look past his shoulder.

Yes, he was able to make up 1-2 spots that late over both secondary Red Bulls but just can’t believe he forced Isack Hadjar off the track at that same corner where he got into Gabriel Bortoleto from the opening sprint race early yesterday & he got a penalty for it from 14th now 16th.

Don’t know much else to say but shame there’s no recourse, plus he still needs to improve his cornering (that should help him better when overtaking drivers without being silly) & most importantly, that poor Renault engine he’s got right now.

Also shoutout to fellow Aussie Oscar Piastri with the win for McLaren-Mercedes!

Update: Felt sorry for Pierre whose car was caught underweight along with two Ferraris and they were all DQed, so Jack finished 13th instead – could’ve been 11th if it wasn’t for that penalty. But again, he still needs to keep up going into Japanese round.

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Motorsport

Tough Saturday in the office at Alpine-Renault alongside Jack Doohan from the sprint race to feature qualifying in Shanghai

by Sports Benches

It wasn’t the day Jack Doohan wanted to see and hear from the top brass at Alpine on big day Saturday from the sprint race to feature qualifying.

Let’s start by replacing his PU count that seems to be the achilles heel of his sprint race setup when Pierre was a few places ahead of him from 17th to 12th while he was right in between 18th-19th before he got into Gabriel Bortoleto whilst trying to get past him on the last lap for 18th and he came home last.

Yes, his raw pace is on par as always even though the team’s qualifying run were bang average for both cars in Q1 as he will have to start 18th & Pierre from 16th.

But at the end of the day, he just needs to be bit more careful with the cornering as if we remove the “drag racing” part from this sport. That’s where he got so wrong a few times even on the dry conditions including the last turn of his last-pitched timed lap – let’s hope he can fix all of that, so he can follow the $$$ for tomorrow.

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Motorsport

Formula 1 Chinese GP 2025: Jack Doohan’s mixed Friday from power steering issues to being a match with his team-mate Pierre Gasly in Shanghai at Alpine-Renault

by Sports Benches

Things may not have gone his way today when it comes to the problems of the car during the one and only practice session by Jack Doohan at Alpine such as that power steering issue while the Renault engines he’s got there didn’t help much at present.

However, one thing he done good though on opening day Friday in Shanghai was being on par with his team-mate (Pierre Gasly) where he was slightly faster than him – despite both unable to get past the first stage of sprint qualifying.

Although there’s another chance coming up early tomorrow where Jack will roll off 16th & Pierre in 17th for the first selected sprint race of the year.

And if it wasn’t for that super Ollie Bearman timed lap at the last minute for Haas-Ferrari, then Jack could have gone through to another second round of qualifying for a bit longer right there. 

For now, let’s hope the car can give Jack the boost he needs this weekend starting with solid Top 10-12 outings both sprint race & feature qualifying.

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Motorsport

NASCAR today’s result: Josh Berry another first time winner who just gifted Wood Brothers Racing’s 101st Cup win and a mixed afternoon in LV from Legacy Motor Club

by Sports Benches

It’s good to see another Wood Brothers race win in the space of just over six months from their centurion Cup victory and hats off to hard-worker Josh Berry with his first Cup win. 

Didn’t know there was another first timer making the big rounds at WBR just like Harrison Burton last year at Daytona & don’t forget Young Ryan Blaney too back in June 2017 at Pocono.

For Legacy MC, kinda of a mixed day with John Hunter Nemechek on another Top 20 afternoon (20th) & Erik Jones 27th.

Erik was off to a flyer thanks to his unreal qualifying run from 5th but then a lot of yellows + his own spin ruined his momentum while JHN effective on the long runs as always & able to keep his car clean that benefitted his track position – wish he had good qualifying car though that can change everything.

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Motorsport

F1 Albert Park Sunday 2025: Jack Doohan’s home debut ended early at the expense of difficult conditions under wets

by Sports Benches

Unlucky there from Alpine’s No.7 Jack Doohan whose first home race unfortunately ended that early when racing under wet weather in a Formula 1 car for the first time proves to be so difficult & it’s a shame he’s unable to get himself back out on track.

Don’t forget he isn’t the only one to experience this as seen with Carlos Sainz and fellow rookie Isack Hadjar.

All eyes on Pierre now to bring home a good finish for the other Alpine A525 now as there’s always China next weekend to build on his good one-lap pace across practice & qualifying – and surely his first race points will come his way next time.

Update: Gasly finished 11th with some good moments at some stage in 3rd-4th but then another rain hail forced a reshuffle and almost got slipped up after he lost some track position – at least he’s home safe and sound.

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Motorsport

Formula 1 Saturday at Albert Park: Jack Doohan into Q2 for the first time but will start 14th with Alpine team-mate Pierre Gasly starting 9th ahead of race day tomorrow

by Sports Benches

Glad to hear some more excellent Jack Doohan moments across today’s Qualifying day where he was 10th fastest at the first part out of three that puts him through into the second stage for the first time.

That’s a huge step up off the back of his promising start of the home weekend based on the two practice sessions yesterday & also from his unexpected Abu Dhabi debut back in December 2024.

Yes, things didn’t go his way with little time that gone against him unfortunately – could’ve been a close 11th or even 10th again + a first-ever Top 10 shootout.

But still, starting 14th out of the 20 cars ain’t bad as it’s all about being at his personal best and do understand he wants to save it for the best of last.

This is where he wants to be while upping the ante for Top 7-10 points so he can keep his car clean from start to finish even under wet conditions (another strength of Alpine late last year with team-mate Pierre starting 9th) ahead of race day tomorrow.

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Motorsport

Formula 1: Not a bad Friday from Jack Doohan with both Top 15 lap times across both practice sessions for Alpine-Renault at Albert Park

by Sports Benches

It wasn’t a bad day for a start from Alpine’s own No.7 after all across Fast Friday who was 13th in the first session and 14th in the 2nd session and he’s all ahead of his team-mate Pierre Gasly.

Goes to show Jack is damn quick with raw pace & can manage his tires well especially when he’s through the straights with that super soft tires as if he’s on the drag strip. That’s what we know best about him so far & also important to bring that kind of skillset for the best possible start of his Formula 1 career.

Although he had an issue or two when it comes to the cornering where the first session had to be up on hold for a bit (red flag) after he made a mess with the gravel while he may have scratched the floor of his A525 at Turn 10 & asked the team to check on his way back in the garage.

Thankfully he’s okay & that weakness isn’t new anyway as they just want to make sure he’s good to go on Qualifying day tomorrow so his target again is to make up respectable Top 10-12 lap times & then it’s all on Jack to score points come Sunday.

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Motorsport

Final Thoughts ahead of Jack Doohan’s next practice session tomorrow at his home track Albert Park for the Australian Grand Prix with Alpine-Renault

by Sports Benches

In about 12-14 hours from now, Jack will be back behind the No.7 Alpine-Renault A525 to build on the work he picked up from pre-season testing as his target is to clock respectable Top 10-12 lap times.

That’s all we want to hear.

A Good Friday session can mean a good Saturday’s worth of qualifying and also race day Sunday. 

Sure he’s learnt a lot by now other than the basic 1st step of keeping his car clean which is what Pierre has also done all of last season while able to fight the top teams at the same time and Pierre has been setting up those standards every now & then.

Let’s get behind him first & foremost 100% with confidence & let him handle that pressure under traffic also 100%.

Now the tables are on Jack who is more than ready to split the race field with raw pace + his own 7 iron & go into a comfortable situation where no one else is able to ignore him – I mean in a good way – so he can stay with a team who is currently giving him a red hot go at Alpine.

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Motorsport

Formula 1: Jack Doohan’s Albert Park memories ahead of his season-campaign opener on home soil later this week at Alpine

by Sports Benches

Jack Doohan’s next task at Albert Park awaits especially on his home front from racing in F2s back in 2023 to being reserve driver last year along with a special ride in one of those old Enstone-built Benetton cars from the 90s alongside his legendary dad’s bike that also won him a few world championships there.

What can Jack walk away this time then as a first-time Formula 1 driver? Let’s hope it can turn out well with race points based on his pre-season testing feedback from two weeks ago in Bahrain.

Although the chances of winning are of course a long shot since Alpine is currently not on the same pace as McLaren-Mercedes and Red Bull but at least Top 7-10 finishes should be enough to keep him beyond the season opener plus the four other race clause survival.

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