Doohan explains Sprint Qualifying ‘mess up’ that triggered frustrations over team radio

Jack Doohan has explained the pit lane "mess up" that left the Alpine driver frustrated over team radio, having missed out on progressing from SQ1 in Sprint Qualifying at the Miami Grand Prix.

The Australian rookie was caught up in frantic pit lane traffic late on in the first segment of the session, including the simultaneous release of his team mate Pierre Gasly, which prevented him from leaving his garage properly.

READ MORE: Antonelli storms to remarkable maiden pole ahead of Piastri and Norris during Sprint Qualifying in Miami

As a result Doohan was unable to make the turn out of the tight garage and subsequently lost time as he was pushed back into position, with a couple of other cars getting ahead in the pit lane queue.

That traffic cost him the chance of making it to the start line for his last flying lap and Doohan cut a frustrated figure as he exited the session in 17th.

“Man, that is not acceptable, that is not acceptable,” vented Doohan on team radio, with his engineer apologising for the situation that unfolded.

“If you are going to send him after me, you have to make sure he is ready or before me, I can’t turn out and then have to turn in because he is going to run into me and then you guys put me out of Q1, that’s a joke.”

READ MORE: ‘I did not expect it!’ – Antonelli ‘over the moon’ with debut pole in Miami Sprint Qualifying

Speaking in the media pen after the session, Doohan explained the incident that led to his radio message: “It all comes down to the last flying lap and I think that the feeling was good, but I just ended up getting blocked on my way out the pit lane which was a mess up, because it was from the other car.

“And then I wasn’t able to do another flying lap. That’s why they make the length of Quali that long, to do two laps and improve quite a lot on the second lap. I ended up being the last car out there and didn’t get a chance to do a second timed lap.

“I think the first lap was really, really messy – just trying a few things different from practice. But still I think it wasn’t too bad, there was a lot more time in the car for the second lap. I guess we’ll never know now.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s 19-lap Sprint, Doohan expects a tough battle from the rear of the grid, while team mate Pierre Gasly will start from 13th position.

“[I’ve] just [got to] try to move forward as much as possible. We have another shot at Quali tomorrow afternoon, Sprint will be a tough one, just learn as much as we can from that for the main race and then focus on Quali,” Doohan added.

HIGHLIGHTS: Catch all the Miami Sprint Qualifying action as Antonelli makes history with maiden pole