Luckless Jack Doohan ends Saudi Arabian GP practice with reprimand

The young Australian can’t catch a break right now, and was reprimanded by the stewards for crossing the line between the pitlane and the track in Saudi Arabia

Alpine racer Jack Doohan ended the final practice session ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix with a trip to the Formula 1 stewards’ office. The Australian driver was caught crossing the painted area between the track and pit entrance on two occasions, which officials said was in breach of F1’s sporting code.

Doohan first crossed the white line that divides the pit entry from the race track early in the third free practice session ahead of the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Stewards issued the Alpine driver with a warning for his first infringement, adding that it was “clear in the event notes that no part of the tyre must cross the line in any direction”.

Later in the session, Doohan crossed the white line again and was once again investigated by the stewards for the breach of F1’s international sporting code. As it was Doohan’s second infringement, his penalty was stricter.

“It was made clear in the event notes that no part of the tyre must cross the line in any direction,” the stewards explained in documents shared by the FIA. “There is no doubt that this prohibition was breached for a second time.

Jack Doohan, Alpine

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images

“The team warned the driver about the first infringement and asked him to be careful. Despite being warned, DOO crossed the painted area again.”

After being found to have failed to follow the race director’s event notes, which were issued ahead of the grand prix, Doohan was handed a reprimand by the stewards.

Doohan isn’t the only rookie to have been caught out crossing the white line between the track and pitlane. During yesterday’s practice session, Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson was also handed a reprimand for crossing the white line on two occasions.

A reprimand is one of the lowest penalties that stewards can hand out over a race weekend and usually follows a warning for breaches such as exceeding track limits. If a driver picks up four reprimands in a session, they may be hit with a grid drop or further punishment.