The fallout from Franco Colapinto’s crash during qualifying at Imola took a dark turn this week, not because of what happened on track, but because of what was fabricated online. A social media post, falsely made to look like it came from Mick Doohan (father of former Alpine driver Jack Doohan), carried the sarcastic caption “very impressive” above a picture of Colapinto’s crash. The post was fake. But the consequences were very real.
Originally created by parody account @formulafakers, the image was meant to be satire. Yet, instead of staying in meme territory, it spread rapidly across social media, and, more dangerously, into mainstream Argentine media, including ESPN Argentina and Fox Sports, who ran it as authentic. The result? A wave of online abuse and threats directed at the Doohan family, prompting increased security measures and a new spotlight on the weaponization of misinformation in motorsport.
“The source is not Argentine,” Jack Doohan shared. “However, multiple Argentine outlets falsely reported the fabricated image, which triggered the online abuse on my family.”
This isn’t the first time fake news has collided with fan fervor in Formula 1, and it’s not the first time Colapinto’s name has been involved.
Déjà Vu: The Tsunoda Incident
Just a few days prior, another false narrative exploded online, this time claiming Yuki Tsunoda, who had his lap impeded by Franco Colapinto during Friday Practice, had motioned a “f*** you” towards Colapinto. That story, too, was entirely made up, but it didn’t stop the flood of hate from hitting Tsunoda’s social accounts. The abuse was so high and racist that Franco had to beg his fans to stop and admitted that Yuki had the right to be upset as he was at fault. The parallels are impossible to ignore: Colapinto’s fan base, fueled by nationalistic pride and egged on by misleading content, crossed the line again.
@formulafakers Issues a Mea Culpa, Too Late
The parody account behind the original fake image eventually issued a public apology:
“The Doohan family does not deserve to be attacked… This has been a wake-up call on the real, tangible effects of social media… We should have made it more transparent that we are a parody account.”
But their post remained live long enough for the damage to be done. Even after takedowns and retractions, the falsehood had been laundered through the media cycle. Fox Sports Argentina issued a formal apology, stating:
“Lamentamos haber compartido información incorrecta sobre el padre de Jack Doohan. Ya tomamos medidas para mejorar nuestros procesos y evitar que vuelva a suceder.”
Alpine and FIA Step In
In a rare united front, both Alpine and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem condemned the abuse.
Alpine’s team statement reminded fans:
“Behind the visor of these superhuman athletes, there is a person… We cannot condone online abuse and urge all fans to be kind and respectful.”
MBS echoed this with a broader appeal:
“I stand in full support of Yuki Tsunoda and Franco Colapinto… No one should be subjected to threats, hatred, or discrimination. There is no place for abuse or toxicity in our community.”
Not Just an F1 Problem: A Pattern of Online Abuse
What we’re seeing isn’t new, or limited to Formula 1.
Take IndyCar, where British driver Callum Ilott was bombarded with online abuse and threats from fans of Argentine teammate Agustín Canapino following tense on-track battles. The situation escalated so severely that Ilott made his Twitter account private, Canapino took a break from racing, and their team, Juncos Hollinger, came under fire for its silence. Motorsport.com even documented death threats and coordinated harassment directed at Ilott. Canapino egged on his supported initially by liking posts that were making fun of Ilott.
In football (soccer for us Americans), the issue has played out on the global stage. During the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Argentine fans were filmed singing racist chants against French players of African descent. The controversy flared again in 2024 when players like Jean-Philippe Mateta publicly denounced the behavior. Even Enzo Fernández, a star in Argentina’s national team and Chelsea, faced backlash for echoing xenophobic chants at a club event in Buenos Aires, later issuing an apology.
The common thread? A potent cocktail of fandom, nationalism, and unchecked misinformation, often spilling over into racism, xenophobia, and harassment.
Time for Motorsport to Grow Up
Formula 1 thrives on rivalry, national pride, and emotional highs and lows. But when that passion morphs into blind hate, it’s no longer fandom, it’s fanaticism.
And right now, young drivers like Jack Doohan and Franco Colapinto, and those around them, are becoming collateral damage in a sport increasingly shaped by memes, misinformation, and mob behavior.
This should be a turning point. If not for F1’s image, then for its integrity. It’s not about picking sides between Doohan and Colapinto. It’s about choosing whether this sport remains a global celebration of excellence, or descends into a toxic echo chamber driven by rage-clicks and false headlines.
Because if “very impressive” is the lie that lit the match, the real fire is what we let burn afterward.