Yuki Tsunoda and Mick Doohan’s father, Jack, are being targeted online by fans of Franco Colapinto. The Argentine is driving in Imola for the first time as a full-time driver for Alpine, and briefly encountered Yuki Tsunoda on the track during free practice. The subsequent angry gesture from the Japanese driver towards the Argentine led to a barrage of hateful messages online for the Red Bull driver. Mick Doohan has also become a victim, following the spread of a false report on social media.
It was a minor incident during free practice in Imola. Franco Colapinto obstructed Yuki Tsunoda’s path, which resulted in an angry gesture from the Japanese driver. Fans of Colapinto witnessed the incident and proceeded to insult Tsunoda, often in Spanish and frequently with racial undertones, on social media.
“I’ve heard about it,” Tsunoda responds to the media regarding the hateful messages. “To be honest, I think it’s not just about me, if I’ve heard correctly. They (Colapinto’s fans) are also targeting Jack Doohan. He hasn’t done anything wrong, but they’re going after him anyway. That’s a bit unnecessary.”
The Japanese racer expressed his ‘simple frustration’ with the hand gesture towards Colapinto, and believes the fans’ reaction is excessive. “I’m not saying this because it’s directed at me, but they’re also saying all sorts of things to Doohan. It’s good that they have this energy, but they need to keep it under control. I feel they could use their energy in a more appropriate, better way.” Therefore, the Red Bull driver calls on Formula 1, should the social media messages persist. “If it continues and it gets worse, then F1 has to say something at some point.”
Colapinto himself has also responded to the insults from his fans towards Tsunoda. “(Tsunoda) had the right to be frustrated,” the Argentine tells the media. “I don’t know exactly what the Argentine fans have done. I know they have a lot of passion, and they’re always hard on others. They need to be respectful. There’s so much hatred on social media these days, and that’s not our thing.”
Mick Doohan
Tsunoda is not the only victim of Colapinto’s fans. Mick Doohan, father of the recently departed Alpine driver Jack Doohan, also had a run-in with the Argentine’s supporters. On social media, a fake message was spread in which Doohan supposedly mocks Colapinto’s crash during the Imola qualification. Although it’s a fake message, the former world champion motorcyclist is dealing with a lot of insults on his X-account.
