After two years in the FIA Formula 3 Championship, Jack Doohan has built plenty of character as continues his journey towards the ultimate goal, a seat in Formula 1. 
  
The Queenslander battled through a poor first year in the 2020 championship, which saw the then HWA driver fail to score a single point during the 18-race season.  
  
A change of teams over the off season gave Doohan the fresh start he needed and with Trident having been one of the top teams in the paddock, it gave the 18-year-old the confidence to take the step up this year.  
  
Doohan’s results instantly improved with his new team, as he secured a podium and P8 in the opening round in Barcelona, before enjoying more success throughout the year with six podiums, two pole positions and four race wins – three of which were feature races. 

The Aussie also bagged the most points across the seven feature races and had the best qualifying average in the whole field – showing exactly what he was capable of.   


Unfortunately, a few mistakes throughout the season ultimately cost him the title as he finished in second place and just 25 points behind Prema's Dennis Hauger. 
  
Still, Doohan’s results, along with his teammate Clement Novalak, helped the Italian based team secure the Constructors' title and end Prema’s recent dominance over the competition.   
  
“I think that if someone told me that I would have had seven podiums, two poles, four wins and in the championship fight, I definitely would have taken it,” Doohan said. 
  
“In the end, I wanted to win very badly, but I have to be happy with what we as a team achieved this season– for the first time, someone really took the fight to Prema. 
  
“On one lap pace, we were thereabouts, but when it came to race pace, Prema had a far better advantage, so even though they won the Drivers' Championship, I am still proud of being able to do what I did in the Trident and almost win it myself. 
  
“There were some really good moments throughout the year and it was good to get the first podium and some wins, but I would say that the toughest race and most satisfying win of the four was the one in Sochi. 
  
“With everything that was going on with the team title and the pressure from Clem (Novalak) being in my DRS for 17 laps, it was quite mentally hard and difficult to stay on top, but I was really happy to win and it was a different type of achievement for me. 
  
“I have definitely learnt a lot this season and I am still very happy to have finished second.” 
  
While a change in scenery may have been the major factor in Doohan’s ability to improve, it turned out to be minor differences in setups, which ended up providing the major confidence booster.  
  

For Doohan, it didn’t take long to realise the contrast in his two seasons of F3, which helped ignite a newfound attitude and belief.  
  
“Both last year and this year served as different types of character building for me and even though I had the same objectives, the situations were quite different, and I learned how to manage each, which helped my development,” Doohan explained.  
  
“The cars are much the same, but the Trident is quicker and even from new tyres to used – it's much the same thing but the Trident had just that little bit of extra grip which enables you to release the brake and get on the power a little bit earlier.  
  
“All in all, it can be a difference of one or two tenths per corner and that’s where the time is and that’s just what I couldn’t do in the HWA, which are where the mistakes came from because you’re trying to do what you want but you can't. 

“From the moment I got into that Trident car three weeks after the 2020 F3 season finished, I was able to exploit my potential and move the car how I wanted to. I wasn’t able to do that in the HWA car.  
  
“If you are not confident, you can’t push the car and that was the biggest thing for me because I always knew I could drive, I just needed the right setup.” 
  

The most probable path from here for the Red Bull Academy driver is to progress to the FIA Formula 2 Championship next year. 
  
Although he has confirmed his desire to move up into Formula 2, Doohan has yet to sign up with a team, however is in discussions with up to four different suitors for a seat.  

With two rounds still remaining in the Formula 2 2021 season, Doohan expects to announce his 2022 plans later this year.