The Imola GP weekend was full of news, including Alpine’s decision to replace Jack Doohan with Franco Colapinto. This move immediately sparked controversy, particularly on social media. The supporters of the Argentine driver were among the most negative actors of the weekend at the circuit dedicated to Enzo and Dino Ferrari.
Yuki Tsunoda and Jack Doohan bore the brunt of it, targeted online with abusive comments, some even aimed at their families. The Japanese Red Bull driver was criticized for a minor incident on track involving Alpine’s new driver.
But the most controversial case involved Jack Doohan. Some fake news pages posted screenshots supposedly taken from the profile of Jack’s father, Mick Doohan. These screenshots allegedly showed fake posts mocking Franco Colapinto’s qualifying crash with laughing emojis. The extremely offensive comments that followed prompted Jack to publicly call out the situation on his own profile.
The team steps in
Alpine later addressed the issue by releasing a statement at the end of the Imola GP, strongly condemning what had occurred.
“As an F1 team, we believe we are fortunate to be part of a global sport that evokes emotion and deep passion. The fanbase continues to grow, with thousands following their favorite driver with great enthusiasm. They follow every step, from on-track overtakes to the outfits they wear arriving in the paddock.
We urge everyone to remember that behind the visors of these superstar athletes is a person. An individual with feelings, family, and friends. As a team, we cannot accept what is happening on social media, and we ask fans to always remain respectful and kind.”
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