Jack Doohan’s terrifying crash, fire-prone grass, and a random yo-yo act – Free Practice 2 at the Japanese Grand Prix was anything but ordinary.
An FP2 That Had It All
Suzuka’s second practice session didn’t just test the limits of the cars — it pushed the patience of teams, the nerves of fans, and, in Jack Doohan’s case, the boundaries of carbon fiber.
The drama kicked off midway through the session when Alpine’s second full-time driver Jack Doohan suffered a terrifying high-speed crash at Turn 1. His DRS flap appeared not to close, and he took the corner flat out — with no downforce. The car snapped violently, slamming into the barriers and instantly red-flagging the session.
Spectators on-site described the impact as “nightmare fuel” and “scary to see in person.” Others watching the replay noted how quickly it happened: “It spun so quick,” one fan said. Another added, “That’s the biggest crash I’ve seen in a long time.”
What Happened to the Car?
From the replays and telemetry, Doohan’s DRS stayed open through Turn 1 — a corner drivers usually take flat out — leading to an immediate loss of rear downforce. “He forgot to close it,” was the prevailing theory online. “That was bound to happen with the massive missing downforce.”
The DRS typically closes when a driver lifts or brakes, but Suzuka’s high-speed Turn 1 requires neither — so drivers must manually deactivate it. One mistake, and you’re a passenger. “It’s a design quirk,” fans noted. “Max warned about this last year.”
Onboards of other drivers — including George Russell — confirmed that they manually closed their DRS before the corner, often needing to reposition their hands to reach a paddle or button placed on the back of the wheel. “It’s wild they have to do that,” one commenter noted. “All this because of one button not being pushed. That’s what makes it scary.”
Some fans wondered if Doohan lifted slightly but not enough to disengage the DRS, or if a mechanical fault prevented its closure. “We can’t be sure if he forgot or if something failed,” someone noted. “But the green lights were on — it didn’t close.”
Adding to the concern, one of the rear wheel tethers visibly snapped — something rarely seen under normal racing conditions. “Easily a 50G+ crash,” one fan speculated. “Good to see he got out, but no surprise he looked a bit out of it.”
While Doohan walked away, fans noted his delayed exit. As clarified, F1 cars now include driver-worn accelerometers that alert the medical team if a crash exceeds a critical g-force threshold — meaning drivers must wait for a quick assessment before being cleared to exit.
“This was one of the scariest ones in recent memory,” someone wrote. “Amazing he can even speak normally after that.”
Doohan Medical Update: He’s Okay
Amid the chaos and concern, fans received some welcome news from Sky Sports’ Ted Kravitz: “He is OK. He spent a bit of time at the medical centre and wanted to check his physical body and whether he suffered a concussion. The team have confirmed to me there was no concussion suffered.”
The response from the community was a collective sigh of relief. “That’s a testament to the safety of the sport,” one fan said. “185mph into the wall and no concussion? These cars are built different.”
Others couldn’t resist a little wordplay: “Glad he’s Doohan alright,” one quipped. Another joked, “His dad probably told him to toughen up after the crashes he went through.”
While Doohan may still take the rest of the weekend off as a precaution, the fact he walked away from such a violent crash is a tribute to modern F1 safety standards — and a moment that reminded everyone just how thin the line is between control and catastrophe.
Now What for Alpine?
With the Alpine severely damaged, speculation immediately turned to whether a replacement would be needed. Ironically, Ryo Hirakawa — who drove in FP1 for the team — became part of the conversation.
“If Doohan is out now, then we’d have two Japanese drivers, which hasn’t happened since the Super Aguri days,” a commenter said. Others questioned whether Colapinto could step in, but most pointed out Hirakawa is already in Japan and did beat Gasly in FP1 — even if “FP1 isn’t about beating someone.”
Of course, all of this depends on whether Alpine can even repair the car in time. “Looking at it, Alpine might have one driver on Sunday,” a fan commented. “Don’t underestimate the power of overnight shipping,” another joked. “Put about 15 grand into it — if we have to, overnight parts from Japan!”
But doubts lingered about Doohan’s fitness. “He probably has a concussion and won’t be back this weekend,” one user wrote. “Flavio might use this as an excuse to put Colapinto in next week anyway.”
Red Flagged x4: A Session That Refused to Run
Doohan’s crash was just the start. FP2 at Suzuka quickly unraveled into one of the most disrupted sessions in recent memory, with a total of four red flags suspending running for over 37 minutes:
- Red Flag 1: Doohan’s crash (52:46 – 30:00)
- Red Flag 2: Alonso off into the gravel (26:05 – 19:01)
- Red Flag 3: A grass fire near Spoon Curve (13:54 – 6:59)
- Red Flag 4: Another grass fire just before the session ended (0:19 – 0:00)
Fans were left reeling — and laughing — at the absurdity. “This FP2 could’ve been an email,” one joked. “How FP2 finds me: grass on fire.” Others questioned why the grass was so dry in spring, pointing to low humidity, high elevation near Spoon, and seasonal factors.
The fire even reminded some of China 2024, which saw multiple grass fires interrupt running: “It’s China all over again,” fans said. “Except at least the grass here isn’t spray-painted green.”
Many also worried about whether the fires would affect qualifying and the race. Some suggested preemptively watering the grass. “At this point we just need Bernie’s sprinklers,” one joked, referencing Ecclestone’s infamous proposal.
Through it all, F1TV’s commentary team was a highlight, shifting between technical analysis, wholesome banter, and even a surprise yo-yo demonstration during the red flag breaks. “We need a random Yo-Yo guy every time there’s a red,” someone said.
FP2 Classification: McLaren Dominate Again, VCARB Shine
Despite the disruptions, there were a few surprises in the final classification. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri topped the session, with teammate Lando Norris just behind. But the shock came in P3 — VCARB’s Isack Hadjar, who continues to impress in his debut season.
Top 10 – FP2 Classification:
- Oscar Piastri – 1:28.114
- Lando Norris – +0.049
- Isack Hadjar – +0.404
- Lewis Hamilton – +0.430
- Liam Lawson – +0.445
- George Russell – +0.453
- Charles Leclerc – +0.472
- Max Verstappen – +0.556
- Pierre Gasly – +0.643
- Carlos Sainz – +0.643
Notables:
- Yuki Tsunoda finished P18 after being unable to set a fast lap on softs due to the red flags.
- Jack Doohan, obviously, did not return after his crash.
- VCARB’s performance sparked memes and hopeful proclamations: “Promote the VCARB team to Red Bull,” fans joked.
“The Perfect Lap”: McLaren’s Untouchable Ceiling?
Looking at the ideal laps — calculated from a driver’s best sector times — McLaren stood out even more. Lando Norris had a theoretical best lap of 1:27.795, over three-tenths ahead of teammate Piastri, with Ferrari and Mercedes trailing further behind.
Top Ideal Laps (Selected Drivers):
- Norris – 1:27.795
- Piastri – +0.319
- Leclerc – +0.640
- Hadjar – +0.723
- Hamilton – +0.749
Fans were stunned at the raw speed. “Sando Norris,” one quipped. Others warned, “McLaren might win every race if this keeps up.” But many held their breath, remembering that FP2 isn’t always predictive — especially one with four red flags.