logo
F1 star's dad fumes at critics in social media post after British GP trolling

F1 star's dad fumes at critics in social media post after British GP trolling

Daily Mirror10-07-2025
Franco Colapinto is battling to save his Formula 1 career after a series of poor performances since replacing Jack Doohan at Alpine just six rounds into the season
Franco Colapinto's father has hit back at social media trolls for targeting the under-pressure Alpine driver in the wake of his Silverstone nightmare. Colapinto, who impressed during his brief stint at Williams last season, replaced Jack Doohan in the Renault-owned team just six rounds in 2025.
However, he is now under pressure himself after a string of underwhelming performances and crashes. Colapinto had a disastrous weekend at the British Grand Prix, crashing in Q1 and then starting the race from the pitlane.

With the track wet but drying, he was among the drivers to gamble by pitting for slicks at the end of the formation lap. However, he failed to re-emerge from the pits due to what the team called a 'driveline' issue.

It was unclear whether the car or Colapinto was to blame for the issue. The weekend came at the worst possible time for the 22-year-old, who could be replaced, with Alpine approaching Mercedes over the availability of vastly experienced reserve driver Valtteri Bottas.
The Finn, a long-time teammate of Lewis Hamilton before being replaced by George Russell in 2022, is eager to get back into a race seat after being dropped by Sauber at the end of last season.

He could get the chance at Alpine this season, potentially before the summer break, which begins after the Hungarian Grand Prix at the beginning of August.
Given Colapinto's struggles, he has come in for stinging criticism from trolls on social media, prompting his dad, Anibal, to hit back. Colapinto Sr posted on Instagram: 'Don't feel bad when someone speaks ill of you. Remember that successful people are criticized by mediocre and envious people.'
Adding to Colapinto's Silverstone frustration, he saw Alpine team-mate Pierre Gasly take an excellent sixth place. The Argentine said: "I'm sad and frustrated for having ended the weekend like this, which had started well compared to Pierre, and I'm a bit sad about how it ended.

'It was a good race seeing everything that happened: the rain, tyre changes, and all the weather conditions that made the race changeable.
'I think during this weekend I was faster than Pierre and seeing where he is now finishing, maybe we had a good opportunity. We have to keep working focused on what's coming, but it's a shame not being able to even start. It makes me very angry.
'There were many opportunities. I would have loved to be in the race and try something. A bit of frustration for not even being able to start is something no driver wants.'
It remains to be seen whether Colapinto will still be in the car when the F1 season resumes with the Belgium Grand Prix at Spa at the end of July.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

F1 summer report as Lewis Hamilton woe hurts Ferrari and sleeping giant awakens
F1 summer report as Lewis Hamilton woe hurts Ferrari and sleeping giant awakens

Daily Mirror

time2 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

F1 summer report as Lewis Hamilton woe hurts Ferrari and sleeping giant awakens

After 14 rounds of the Formula 1 season, the summer break is here and Mirror Sport has taken the opportunity to have a closer look at how all 10 teams are getting on It has been another Formula 1 season dominated by a single outstanding outfit. But this time it has been McLaren wiping the floor with the opposition, rather than Red Bull. And yet there remains plenty of excitement about what the final 10 events of the year might hold. ‌ When Max Verstappen was dominating the sport, not even his team-mate could get close to him. But this year we have two evenly-matched superstars in Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri who are putting on a real show. They won all but three of the Grands Prix held so far and, while it's a shame that no other team has been able to put up a real fight, this has all the makings of a title race to remember. ‌ Just nine points separate them, Piastri on top but Norris piling on the pressure having won three of the last four races. The only thing missing has been some needle – they are getting on extraordinarily well for two team-mates fighting for individual glory, even quickly forgetting Norris bashing into the back of Piastri in Canada. ‌ Surely, as the trophy gets closer, things between them will get more tense. But even though they've resisted the urge to take chunks out of each other, it's been a thrilling duel up to now and will be a great watch for the rest of the year. For those behind them, it's all about the race to be second best. Ferrari are currently winning that fight, though Charles Leclerc has done most of the work so far with Lewis Hamilton still struggling to adapt. He hit the nadir of his Ferrari career to date last weekend when he called himself "useless" and suggested the team might be better off replacing him. Hamilton desperately needs to find some confidence in the next few months to take into what could be his final F1 season next year. READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton and his Ferrari turmoil – the dream F1 move quickly becoming a nightmare Elsewhere, George Russell is shining for Mercedes despite all the speculation over his future this year, while Verstappen is helplessly watching his Red Bull team fade. And the midfield is delightfully tight with all of them, except perhaps Alpine, in points contention at most races. Here's how each of the 10 teams on the grid have got on so far this term: McLaren - 559 points The teams' title basically sewn up, 299 points clear of Ferrari, and drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in a two-horse race for the drivers' crown. It couldn't have gone much better for McLaren who could break the all-time points record if they keep up their current pace. Top Gear: Seven one-two finishes puts McLaren in with a shout matching Mercedes' record of 12 in a season. First Gear: Norris' crash into the back of Piastri in Canada set back his title bid. ‌ Ferrari - 260 points Lewis Hamilton's struggles have cast a dark cloud over Ferrari as that dream partnership threatens to go horribly wrong. But it's not all doom and gloom with five podiums for Charles Leclerc, while they are second which is the best anyone other than McLaren can hope for this year. Top Gear: Lewis' surprise Sprint win in Shanghai was one of few bright spots for the Brit so far this year. First Gear: Just a day later, Ferrari saw both their cars disqualified for the first time ever in a Grand Prix. Mercedes - 236 points ‌ Started strongly with George Russell on the podium in four of the first six races, and rookie Kimi Antonelli finding his feet quickly in F1. But upgrades have not improved their car and Antonelli has suffered a crisis of confidence amid a barren run of one point scored in seven European races. Top Gear: Russell won while Antonelli got his first podium on a red-letter day in Canada. First Gear: They left Monaco empty handed after a qualifying disaster left both outside the points. Red Bull - 194 points Christian Horner was shown the door, Max Verstappen's title streak is going to end and now even the Dutchman is struggling to get their wretched RB21 to perform. Add to that the ongoing crisis in their second seat and whispers that their 2026 engines may struggle to compete, and new boss Laurent Mekies has quite the job on his hands Top Gear: Successfully keeping Verstappen for another year amid interest from Mercedes was important. First Gear: Just 10 points scored by Yuki Tsunoda in the second seat is an abysmal return. ‌ Williams - 70 points F1's sleeping giant is stirring into life under James Vowles who has got this grand old team performing again after years at the back. Alex Albon has stepped up another gear since Carlos Sainz was recruited and is a target for top teams again, though the Spaniard's slow start has been disappointing. Top Gear: Albon fifth and Sainz eighth at Imola where the former outpaced the Ferrari of Leclerc and Russell in the Mercedes. First Gear: June saw Williams suffer a reliability nightmare and score just one point in three races, losing ground to their midfield rivals. Aston Martin - 52 points ‌ Testing suggested it would be a tough year for Aston and their start to the season proved it, though they have found more pace with upgrades in the European season. Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll have contributed evenly with 26 points each, though the real focus at this team is on what Adrian Newey can cook up for them next year. Top Gear: Fifth and seventh in Hungary last weekend catapulted them up to sixth in the championship with by far their best haul of the year. First Gear: It took double F1 champion Alonso NINE races to get a point on the board. Sauber - 51 points The surprise package of the season so far. New boss Jonathan Wheatley has had a massive impact since starting work in April after 18 years as sporting director at Red Bull. They made a slow start but have scored points in each of the last six races with veteran Nico Hulkenberg leading by example and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto turning heads. Top Gear: Hulkenberg's first ever F1 podium at Silverstone, at the 239th attempt, was one of the feel-good stories of the year so far in all of sport. First Gear: Seven pointless races in a row between China and Monaco had Audi fearing the worst about the team they formally take over next year. ‌ Racing Bulls - 45 points Strategy calls and bad luck have cost them at times, but Red Bull's second team has had a good car for most of the year and has been in points contention at most races. Liam Lawson has found his feet since he was brutally axed by the top Red Bull team, while Isack Hadjar has a strong case for rookie of the year so far. Top Gear: Sixth place in his first Monaco F1 race earned Hadjar plenty of admirers. First Gear: Both drivers showed their inexperience by crashing out early on in difficult conditions at Silverstone. Haas - 35 points They may be second-to-last, but there is a buzz again at Haas under Ayao Komatsu after things turned sour towards the end of Guenther Steiner's long reign. Their car has been wildly inconsistent but new team leader Esteban Ocon has usually delivered when he can, while British rookie Oliver Bearman is quick but still very raw. Top Gear: Ocon made a swift impact with fifth in China, just his second race with the team, while Bearman was also in the points. First Gear: Their car was by far the slowest in the Melbourne opener thanks to a design flaw and fixing it set back their upgrades plan for the whole season. Alpine - 20 points Renault's disastrous F1 project continues to tread water until 2026 when they hope Mercedes engines will power them further up the grid. Pierre Gasly is doing the best he can and has scored all their points, with Franco Colapinto floundering since replacing the pointless Jack Doohan. Top Gear: Gasly saw his opportunity amid the Silverstone chaos and steered his Alpine to sixth. First Gear: Ferrari's double disqualification in China masked the fact Gasly was also kicked out of the race because his car was underweight.

When McLaren can seal F1 title as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri battle rages on
When McLaren can seal F1 title as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri battle rages on

Daily Mirror

time4 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

When McLaren can seal F1 title as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri battle rages on

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are in a two-horse race for the Formula 1 drivers' title with McLaren 299 points clear of their nearest rival and virtually guaranteed glory No-one at McLaren wants to say it out loud yet, but both Formula 1 titles are theirs this season. The only thing yet to be decided is how long it is going to take for things to become official in both the constructors' and drivers' championships. ‌ For the latter, pretty much everyone hopes it goes on for as long as possible. After Lando Norris won the Hungarian Grand Prix last weekend, the Brit is now just nine points behind team-mate Oscar Piastri in what promises to be a thoroughly entertaining run-in. ‌ They have both been very well-matched over the course of the first 14 rounds of the year. Piastri has six Grand Prix victories while Norris has five. They have finished ahead of their team-mate precisely seven times each, while Piastri has edged his title rival two to one in the three Sprints held so far in 2025. ‌ Piastri has led the championship for most of the year, but never by a significant margin. Every time the Aussie has threatened to build a comfortable lead, Norris has struck back to keep himself within touching distance. With any luck, the same will continue right up until the end of the year to give us a showdown to get excited about in the Abu Dhabi season finale. Sadly, in the constructors' championship, any intrigue about who will come out on top disappeared long ago. ‌ McLaren have had the dominant car all year long and have only failed to win three of the 14 Grands Prix held so far. With 10 rounds remaining, they are 299 points ahead of Ferrari who have been aware for some time that second place is the best they can hope for. Because there are still three Sprint races to be stages, on top of those 10 Grands Prix, there are still a maximum of 475 points up for grabs for any team. That means it is still mathematically possible for McLaren to be caught, though it would take a virtually impossible set of circumstances for them to throw it away from here. Assuming they won't suffer a series of highly improbable disasters that mean they don't score any points at all for the rest of the year, the leaders are on course to ensure a successful team's title defence fairly soon. In fact, they could do it within just three rounds, at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix which follows the races at Zandvoort and Monza after the summer break. Sky Sports launches discounted Formula 1 package This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more £43 £35 Sky Get Sky Sports here Product Description Even if they do not finish first and second in those next three races, which is not necessarily unlikely given they have done it in their last four outings, McLaren look likely to get over the line at the following race, the Singapore Grand Prix. That would get the job done with a whopping six rounds remaining. That would match Red Bull's record from that dominant 2023 season which saw them win every race but one. But even if they don't manage to do that, what seems certain is that the drivers' title will soon be the only thing left to fight for this year – not that any racer not representing McLaren will play a part in that.

Former Man Utd star Brandon Williams set for return to football after 14 months with medical booked
Former Man Utd star Brandon Williams set for return to football after 14 months with medical booked

Scottish Sun

time9 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Former Man Utd star Brandon Williams set for return to football after 14 months with medical booked

Where there's a Will Former Man Utd star Brandon Williams set for return to football after 14 months with medical booked Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FORMER Manchester United star Brandon Williams is closing in on a transfer to a Championship club as he bids to rebuild his career. Williams, 24, has been without a club for more than a year following the expiration of his contract at Old Trafford. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Brandon Williams is set to sign for Hull after the Championship side won the hunt for the 24-year-old Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 2 Williams has been without a club for a year following the termination of his Man Utd contract Credit: Kenny Ramsay But he is now in line to join Hull after the Tigers won the hunt for the Mancunian amid interest from rivals in the second tier and overseas, according to the Daily Mail. A trial with the club piqued interest after his form and attitude left key personnel impressed. And the report adds that Williams now has a medical booked in at the East Yorkshire club next week. The full-back broke through at United at the age of 19 and went on to make 51 appearances for the club in all competitions. However, the Carrington graduate spent the final two years of his United contract on loan at Norwich and Ipswich before he was released to end a 16-year association with the Red Devils. Off the field he was also dogged by personal issues, including being found to have been driving erratically on the A34 when he crashed his Audi A3 in a horror 99mph crash. Williams avoided jail for the 2023 incident, which had come after he was caught with a balloon in his mouth, following a guilty plea to dangerous driving and driving without third party insurance. He was handed a 14-month sentence, suspended for two years, and banned from driving for three years in May of this year at Chester Crown Court. Williams spoke candidly about his career when appearing on Ben Foster's Fozcast podcast, revealing how he had struggled to get out of bed on some of his "dark days". He added in the April chat: "It hurts me watching football now because I just want to be there, I just want to play. Unemployed ex-Man Utd star Brandon Williams opens up on 'dark' times after axing "I miss being in a team, I miss being on the coach, I just think it's that thing where it gets too much for somebody sometimes." Williams, who has represented England at U20 and U21 level continued: "Maybe I needed that break, just take everything in to reset." If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store