Franco Colapinto Faces Fiery Backlash from Former F1 Star and Fans: Are His Dreams of Glory Over?
In a dramatic turn of events for the 2025 Formula 1 season, Franco Colapinto has found himself at the center of a storm, branded a “disappointment” by none other than ex-F1 driver Christian Danner. Danner’s scathing critique is a wake-up call for the 22-year-old Argentine, who many believed would shine on the F1 stage. Danner pulled no punches, declaring, “He simply doesn’t deliver anything tangible on the track.”
Colapinto, who vaulted into the F1 spotlight in 2024, initially captured attention with a respectable junior career and a mid-season debut for Williams, where he managed to snag five points. However, his fortunes have since taken a nosedive. He was thrust into the limelight again when he joined Alpine, taking a seat from Jack Doohan after just seven rounds into the season. The expectation was high, yet the results have been anything but stellar. As of now, Colapinto has failed to score a single point for Alpine, mired in a series of rookie blunders, including a catastrophic qualifying crash at Imola and an embarrassing exit during a Pirelli tyre test.
Danner’s critique didn’t stop at Colapinto’s performance. He also slammed the Argentine’s fanbase, describing them as “really extreme” and creating a “very unpleasant” atmosphere. “I speak from personal experience,” Danner lamented, highlighting the backlash he faced for daring to criticize Colapinto. “Any criticism brings with it a sh*tstorm. That’s very, very unpleasant.” The fervor of Colapinto’s fans has reached a boiling point, with reports emerging of Yuki Tsunoda receiving abuse after a tense moment during the race weekend at Imola.
The controversy escalated when Jack Doohan, Colapinto’s predecessor at Alpine, took to social media to refute fake news that circulated, depicting his father, Mick Doohan, mocking Colapinto’s misfortune. The tension surrounding Colapinto’s rise is palpable, and his attempts to manage the fallout have been less than effective. “I received a lot of criticism on social media since I was in Formula 2,” Colapinto admitted, trying to deflect the blame for the behavior of his most passionate supporters. “I think we are athletes, and we have to focus on what we can control.”
The FIA has recognized the growing toxicity surrounding F1 and is taking steps to combat online abuse through its United Against Online Abuse initiative. But for Colapinto, the challenge remains daunting. Can he rise above the swirling chaos and turn his career around, or will he be remembered as another flash in the pan in the high-octane world of Formula 1? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the pressure is on, and the eyes of the racing world are watching closely.