All eyes at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez are on the national motorsport hero of Mexico and his Dutch teammates: Sergio Pérez and World Champion Max Verstappen.

But there’s even more going on at the Mexico City track. For example: Australian Jack Doohan’s Formula 1 debut. Perhaps it is the prelude to a special racing story.

The son of motorsport icon Mick Doohan (57) is experiencing his first Grand Prix weekend in Mexico. On Friday he replaced Esteban Ocon for an hour and completed a free practice session for the alpine racing team. The 19-year-old Australian wants to start in Formula 1 within a few years.

And Jack’s father Mick? He is particularly proud. But the real breakthrough is yet to come.

With five world titles in the 500cc class (now MotoGP) you are a motorsport great; Her son is a young Formula 2 driver who dreams of the premier class. Who was more nervous just before training started?

“Jack was a lot calmer than me. I was really quite nervous. As a father you wonder what’s going to happen, how he’s going to do it and if he’s going to slip up. It’s quite something when your son suddenly finds himself between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton moves.”

“Jack prepared extremely well and worked hard to be ready for this job. He breathes, sleeps and lives for motorsport and puts everything back for it.”

You tested a Formula 1 car yourself in 1998, so put yourself in Jack’s shoes. Not a resounding success at the time. Is the memory still fresh?

“Yes, there were three of us at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona. I was invited to an event with F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve and Rally Champion Tommy Mäkinen. We had the same tobacco manufacturer as a sponsor and exchanged the equipment in the first round and ended up in the wall.”

“Tommy did the same thing one turn later. All in all it was a great day, but it didn’t do much. I didn’t feel like crashing again and didn’t want to take any chances because I wanted to stay fit for next season in the 500.”

“It’s just a tobacco party with a nice picture for the sponsor. A motorsport champion in a winning Formula 1 car, of course that works. And it was a lot of fun to be there too. I can still handle it.” 25 years later. “Have fun.”

“Later on, I got a lot of offers and opportunities to get into an F1 cockpit. McLaren wanted to seduce me in particular, but they were just after a marketing gimmick. I didn’t feel like racing cars. Used to have a blank agenda, I’d rather just be free.”

Have you been following Formula 1 closely for years or just watching since your son aspired to an F1 cockpit?

“Of course I’m a lot more involved with F1 now because of my son. I’m often in the paddock and I talk to a lot of people, but I watched for a long time. I started MotoGP, as it’s called now. It’s a small one World.”

“Motorcyclists and F1 drivers often meet, for example because they have the same sponsor and therefore the same obligations. I know many drivers. We can usually have a good conversation because we experience more or less the same thing.”

“I got along very well with Michael Schumacher. A real friend. We won a lot of world titles together, trained a lot together and were very close.”

“I had a karting track built near my home in Australia and Michael would arrange the karts when he came to visit. Those are very fond memories. I’m mainly in touch now with Jacques Villeneuve, David Coulthard and Jean Alesi. All old people , haha.”

They’ve won practically every race in the 500 class for years. Max Verstappen has won consistently this year and has long since extended his title. Is this dominance comparable?

“I don’t see much of myself in him, but there is certainly a parallel. The enormous willpower and drive go together. I was lucky to join a very good team at the right time. Verstappen is also having a great time together now at Red Bull Racing.”

“Max is still so young and is getting better and better. He will continue to dominate this sport for years to come if he has a car where he can show how good he is.”

Why doesn’t Jack follow in your footsteps? Was it his own wish to focus on four wheels?

“When Jack was five years old, he fell off a small dirt bike and broke his leg. Then it was over. He was much more interested in the karts that Schumacher took with him, but he also went cycling and rugby and surfing. Eventually he ended up in the karts. I could live with that.”

“Every mistake you make on a motorcycle leads to an accident. In a car, if you miss, you can land in the grass and continue in first gear. And without injury. I have a lot of passion for motorsport, but I’m quite relieved that Jack has decided to go into four-wheelers.”

“Motorsport is much safer and it is more comfortable for parents. I know from experience how dangerous motorcycle racing is. A fall in Assen almost cost me my leg narrow escape. I’ve made a lot of friends in hospitals through all the accidents, but that’s not the place to meet people.”

“I like it too. Motorsport is a completely different discipline than motorsport. At least now we’re not constantly being compared. I would have liked Jack to become a tennis pro.”

Will your son be a Formula 1 great in the next few years?

“I’m not going to say he can beat Max. It’s far too early for that, he has to keep performing and take a first place. We hope for a race debut in 2024 or 2025.”

“Jack can’t take his loss, so at least that’s a good start. He thinks he can beat everyone. That’s good. Without that belief and mentality, you’re not going to make it. If you dream of third place, you stay better at home.” “