Red Bull Expresses Remorse Over Comments Linked to Online Abuse Targeting Mercedes Star Kimi Antonelli
The Red Bull racing outfit has issued a statement stating its sincere regret for comments made that were followed by a torrent of social media vitriol, including death threats, directed at Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli.
Antonelli was said to have switched his social media picture to a solid black image on Monday, a reaction to the abusive comments that appeared on his accounts. Mercedes confirmed that a number of these messages constituted direct threats against the driver's life.
The situation originated with team radio during the final laps of the Qatar Grand Prix. Red Bull engineer Gianpiero Lambiase suggested over the air that it "appeared as if" Antonelli had "just pulled over" to let rival driver Lando Norris through.
This occurrence proved crucial for the title fight, as the overtake secured extra points. This extended the McLaren driver's points advantage over Verstappen to a dozen points heading into the final race in Abu Dhabi.
In its official communication, Red Bull clarified: "Comments made implying that Mercedes driver had deliberately allowed Lando Norris past are clearly incorrect. Replay footage shows Antonelli momentarily losing control of his car, thereby enabling Norris to get by. We deeply regret that this has led to Kimi being subjected to online abuse."
The team's statement did not include a direct apology for the original claim. However, sources indicate that Lambiase subsequently said sorry to Toto Wolff after reviewing video evidence of the incident.
"This is complete and utter rubbish. That astounds me even to hear that," stated Wolff. "We are fighting for second place in the constructors' championship... How brainless can you be to even say something like this?"
Wolff explained that he had spoken with Lambiase, who stated he had not seen the actual incident when he spoke over the radio. The team reported a "1,100% increase" in abusive messages targeting Antonelli after the race.
For his part, Antonelli explained the moment as a simple mistake. He said he was driving aggressively to close on Carlos Sainz and had a "big snap" that led him to go off track and lose the position.
"It was really hard with the turbulence and the tyres were overheating," Antonelli remarked. "It's disappointing to lose the place because it would have been additional points."
Main Takeaways from the Situation
- Red Bull has voiced remorse for comments made by a team member.
- Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli was targeted by death threats in the aftermath of those comments.
- The disputed comment centered on an overtaking move that impacted the championship standings.
- Video evidence confirm Antonelli lost control, contradicting the suggestion of team orders.
- The engineer involved has apologised to Mercedes team leadership.
