Melbourne Grand Prix 2025: Jack Doohan reveals chat with Daniel Ricciardo ahead of season opening race alongside Oscar Piastri

Australia again has two stars on the Grand Prix circuit for 2025 with Oscar Piastri and Jack Doohan on the grid for this weekend’s season-opening race in Melbourne.

They are both racing to get out of the shadow of former Australian F1 star Dan Ricciardo, who was axed by Red Bull after the Singapore Grand Prix in September last year.

But despite Ricciardo’s absence, his influence will still be felt as the new generation of Australian drivers make their mark.

Doohan made his debut for Alpine in the final race of 2024 in Dubai last year, while Piastri is quickly establishing himself as a rising star after winning two races last year with McLaren.

The son of MotoGP Australian racing legend Mick Doohan said he would have loved to have raced against Ricciardo.

“It would have been amazing with DR (Ricciardo) still here (as well), but at least there are still two of us,” he told NewsCorp.

“We spoke quite a bit at the end of last year.

“I saw him when I was out in LA before heading to (Las) Vegas as well, we caught up briefly there. But since I haven’t had a lot of communication recently.

“He has been doing his thing, enjoying his post-F1 life. Not having to deal with everything going on as it normally would be for him.

“So for sure he is liking that and I’ve just been fully focused on this year ahead.”

Doohan said Piastri had set a high bar after his most successful season to date last year.

“Oscar has been doing exceptional, especially last year and the McLaren car was fast,” the 22-year-old said.

“Hopefully we’re able to challenge him in the near future and it’s great to be on the grid with him.”

Last week Doohan won praise from his Alpine team boss Oliver Oakes for a ‘punchy’ pre-season response to speculation about his future with the French outfit.

But there’s been uncertainty about how long he will keep the seat, with Argentine Franco Colapinto waiting in the wings after joining from Williams on a multi-year deal.

Doohan hit back last month when asked if he felt undermined.

“I was quite proud of him being punchy with you all,” Oakes told reporters after three days of pre-season testing in Bahrain, while sidestepping an invitation to shut down the speculation about how many races Doohan would get.

“I actually feel for him, because I get that everybody wants the clickbait and that’s a discussion topic. But I think also he should be given a bit of space to just get on with it for a few rounds.

“I think he’s done a really good job of just blocking out the noise and getting on with it.”

Oakes said drivers were always under pressure, at every level.

“I get everybody has an opinion, everyone can be a keyboard warrior as well but it’s very simple though, isn’t it? We’re here to go racing, we want the best driver in the car, the best engine in the car,” he added.

“(Executive advisor) Flavio (Briatore) said it, didn’t he? We’re starting the season with Jack and Pierre (Gasly) and then let’s see how it all goes.

“I think we’ve been really honest as a team as to what we’re doing. I’m pretty chilled with it... Jack just get on with it and also let the team get on with it.”

Doohan, son of motorcycle great Mick, stayed out of trouble in testing with the team looking likely to be in the fight to be best of the rest behind the top four. Alpine finished sixth last year.

“I think our target is to continue where we ended up at the end of last year...we kind of want to be clipping at the heels of those teams,” said Oakes.

“Both drivers have been pretty happy with the car.”