Jack Doohan reveals death threats forced use of armed guards at Miami GP
Jack Doohan has revealed he required armed security at last year’s Miami Grand Prix after receiving graphic death threats warning that his limbs would be cut off.
The Australian racer disclosed the harrowing details of the abuse he faced during his time with Alpine in the latest series of the Netflix documentary Drive to Survive.
Doohan stated that the threats were received via email prior to the race in Florida last May.
The 23-year-old said the messages contained specific warnings that he would be killed if he did not vacate his Formula 1 seat.
“I got serious death threats for this [Miami] Grand Prix, saying they’re going to kill me here if I’m not out of the car,” Doohan explained.
“I had six or seven emails saying if I am still in the car by Miami, all my limbs will be cut off.”
Social media abuse and fabricated posts
The harassment reportedly escalated due to online campaigns believed to be driven by supporters of Franco Colapinto.
Colapinto, the Argentine driver who eventually replaced Doohan at the Enstone-based team, was the reserve driver at the time of the incident.
Tensions were inflamed by a parody account which created a fake social media post purporting to be from Doohan’s father, the former MotoGP world champion Mick Doohan.
The fabricated image appeared to mock a crash involving Colapinto, leading to it being reported as genuine by several media outlets in Argentina.
This misinformation triggered a torrent of abuse directed at the young driver and his family.
Police escorts and career impact
The severity of the threats necessitated a significant security presence for Doohan, his girlfriend Ebony Zippora Gold, and his trainer throughout the race weekend.
“I was there with my girlfriend and my trainer, and I’ve got three armed men around me. I had to call my police escort to come and get it under control,” Doohan added.
The former Alpine driver admitted the ordeal ruined what should have been the pinnacle of his professional life.
“I wasn’t able to enjoy being a Formula 1 driver, something I dreamt of for so long.”
Doohan endured a difficult start to the season, failing to score a point in the opening six races before eventually parting ways with the French outfit.