Jack Doohan has revealed details of death threats he received ahead of last year’s Miami Grand Prix, which was his final appearances in a Formula 1 race.
Alpine dropped Doohan and replaced him with Franco Colapinto following the race in May. Doohan, who was subjected to abuse from some of Colapinto’s supporters on social media at the time, said he received threatening emails prior to the race.
“I had six or seven emails saying that if I was still in the car by Miami, that all my limbs would be cut off,” said Doohan in an interview for the new series of Drive to Survive. “It’s pretty heavy stuff. It’s not the nicest way to be going racing.”
In the programme Doohan is heard discussing the threats during the race weekend. “On top of all this, I got serious death threats for this grand prix,” said Doohan. “They’re going to kill me here if I’m not out of the car.”
Prior to the Miami weekend, one of Colapinto’s sponsors triggered speculation Doohan would be dropped when a hot mic caught him claiming his driver would be in the car for the following race in Imola. During the weekend Oliver Oakes, Alpine’s team principal at the time, denied it would be Doohan’s final start for the team.
Doohan was sufficiently concerned for his safety that he requested police assistance during the Miami weekend. “On Wednesday, I’m there with my fucking girlfriend and my trainer and I’ve got three fucking men, like armed men, one at that window, one there, and I had to call my police escort to come get it under control,” he said.
He retired from the race following contact with Liam Lawson at the first corner. Three days later Alpine announced Colapinto would replace him with immediate effect.
The strain Doohan was under in Miami is captured by another exchange between him and his PR officer. “I’m saying whatever I want, I don’t give a shit any more,” he said. After being told to calm down Doohan replied: “I’m already closed-lipped 99% of the time, anything they’ll hear anyway is only a third of what I’m allowed to say. It’s a joke.”
Doohan left Alpine in January and joined Haas as its reserve driver for the new season.
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