Doohan F1 debut makes dad Mick proud

Jack Doohan's debut drive at a Formula One weekend may have been cut short through a technical issue, but the Australian teenager's famous dad was still left cherishing a "magnificent moment".

Former world motorcycling champ Mick Doohan recalled all the days he'd take his boy to go-kart meetings around Australia, so reckoned it was an emotional day to watch 19-year-old Jack now making his bow in the world's greatest motor sport circus at the Mexico Grand Prix.

Invited into the Alpine garage at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez to watch Jack in his first F1 practice session on Friday, Mick liked what he saw of the teenager's debut before technical issues with the car's power unit prompted the team to cut his session short after 13 laps.

"It's an important moment, what all these young drivers aim to do, so as a father, to see him there - I've been at every go kart track along the way - it's a magnificent moment," smiled Mick, the 57-year-old Queenslander who won five world 500cc titles, in an interview with Sky Sports.

Asked if he had butterflies watching Jack in action, he admitted: "Totally - you're not in control of what's going on when you're just watching, but I cherish the moment.

"And the plan is that, one day, we'll be there every weekend (at F1)."

Friday's session was one set aside by F1 to give teams the chance to blood up-and-coming talents.

Mick was impressed by Jack's first few laps before Alpine pulled the plug, concerned about issues in the car that Esteban Ocon will race.

"I think he did a great job," said Mick, after Jack finished 19th of the 20 starters in the session, recording a best lap of 1min 24.615 sec, nearly four seconds down on pacesetter Carlos Sainz's quickest circuit in his Ferrari.

"There was a small issue out there and they decided to retire the car, which was fine. In that first session, he did a good job on a dirty track, and was feeling comfortable."

Jack, a member of Alpine's Driver Academy, is currently fourth in the Formula Two championship and tipped as one of the stars of the future.

Asked if Jack might be on the F1 grid next season, Mick said things would become clearer after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend in November when the youngster would have another practice session.

"Really it's up to Alpine where he goes next year and at the moment, we're probably just looking at F2 and, if something else becomes available, then good on him.

"But at the moment, his focus is still F2 with, hopefully, some more reserve driving here in Formula One. It's a great opportunity."

And would he be handing out advice? "At the end of the day, I'm just his father ... so, 'stay out of the way, dad' type of thing!"

But Mick, a famously aggressive rider, maybe can see Jack as being a chip off the old block.

"Let's just say he doesn't like to lose," he smiled. 

"That's always a good sign of a racer, and he's been like that since he was a kid - at anything, football or whatever."

Jack was grateful to Alpine for the chance.

"It was a fantastic experience to drive in Free Practice 1 today, so thanks to Alpine for giving me that opportunity," Jack said.

"We had more running planned but, unfortunately, we had to stop early due to a small issue on the car. These things happen in motorsport, but to drive 13 laps here on a grand prix weekend was an incredible experience and something I'll remember forever."