Jack Doohan commits to major F1 change as Alpine pressure intensifies

Jack Doohan has insisted that he must revisit the Chinese Grand Prix and make a key change, to stop receiving penalties on a regular basis. 

The under pressure Alpine driver racked up four penalty points at the Shanghai International Circuit, with two having been received in both the sprint and the main race. 

Doohan also received a 10-second time penalty in both races in China, further intensifying the pressure on his shoulders to perform. 

He received a 10-second time penalty and two penalty points in the sprint race for hitting fellow rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, whilst he got an identical penalty in the grand prix for forcing Isack Hadjar off the circuit.

In the race, the punishment cost Doohan two places, dropping him from 14th to 16th provisionally, although he was promoted to 13th following the three disqualifications. He remains without a point after the first two rounds, as does team-mate Pierre Gasly. 

However, Doohan was slower than Gasly throughout the bulk of the Chinese GP, leading to more speculation over his future and possibly being replaced by Alpine third and reserve driver Franco Colapinto.

Doohan recognises he needs to keep pushing but also stop picking up penalties. 

"56 more laps than we got in Australia, so that's the first positive," Doohan joked to select media including RacingNews365. 

"I think we're lacking a bit of pace in general. But to pick up four spots, head forward and keep the Racing Bulls car behind for 20 odd laps, that was a Q3 car they had solid pace. 

"So I think we have to be quite happy with that. Obviously, I'm gonna have to revisit it, because I don't want to be getting penalties on a regular basis and giving away two places like that. "

No points for 14th or 16th, however, it definitely just feels a bit better. I think just going to keep our heads down for Japan."