Franco Colapinto’s fans lash out at the Doohan family — all because of a fake social media story
A tense weekend, both on and off the track. The 2025 Imola Grand Prix left behind more than just a race for Alpine: between the Oakes incident, mistakes, and spiraling reactions, the situation involving Jack Doohan, Franco Colapinto, and the Doohan family pushed Alpine to release a strongly worded statement against online abuse.
After just five races, the team decided to take Jack Doohan out of the car and promote Franco Colapinto. A sporting decision, of course, but one that sparked heated controversy. Tensions peaked after Imola’s qualifying session, where Colapinto crashed into the barriers in Q1. That’s when things escalated.
A fake Instagram story, falsely attributed to Mick Doohan — Jack’s father — started circulating online. It appeared to mock the Argentine driver’s crash. Though quickly debunked, it didn’t take long for a storm to erupt: the Doohan family became a target for the more extreme fans, who hurled death threats and vile insults their way. This wasn’t the first time: in recent weeks, Jack had already faced harsh criticism for his performances, with fans pushing (successfully) for Colapinto to replace him.
Alpine decided to speak out, reminding the public that behind every driver there’s a human being — with emotions, loved ones, and a life beyond the racetrack. It was a call for responsibility, aimed at a fanbase that increasingly confuses passion with hate.
“As a Formula 1 team, we feel fortunate to be part of a global sport that stirs deep passion and emotion, with a growing fan community who eagerly follow every move of their favorite drivers — whether it’s a daring overtake on track or the style in which they arrive in the paddock.
We ask everyone to remember that behind the visor of these superhuman athletes is a person — someone with feelings, a family, friends, and loved ones. As a team, we cannot tolerate online abuse and we urge all fans of this sport we love to be kind and respectful.”
Words that were necessary — in a time when motorsport is increasingly shaped not just by what happens on the stopwatch, but also by what unfolds online. Social media, for better or worse, is part of today’s reality.
Photo: BWT Alpine F1 Team