The Red Bull team Voices Remorse Regarding Comments Following Online Abuse Against Driver Kimi Antonelli
The Red Bull Formula 1 team has issued a statement stating its sincere regret for post-race remarks that were followed by a torrent of online abuse, including vile threats, directed at Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli.
Antonelli was said to have changed his Instagram profile to a solid black image on Monday, a reaction to the hurtful messages that appeared on his accounts. His team stated that a number of these messages included direct threats against the driver's life.
The situation originated with team radio during the final laps of the Qatar Grand Prix. Max Verstappen's race engineer remarked over the air that it "looked like" Antonelli had "deliberately moved aside" to allow rival driver Lando Norris to pass.
This incident proved crucial for the championship battle, as Norris's pass earned him extra points. This extended the Briton's championship lead over Verstappen to a dozen points ahead of the final race in Abu Dhabi.
In its statement, Red Bull clarified: "Comments made implying that Mercedes driver had deliberately allowed Lando Norris to overtake are factually wrong. Video evidence shows Antonelli briefly losing control of his car, thereby enabling Norris to pass him. We deeply regret that this has led to Kimi receiving online abuse."
The team's announcement stopped short of a formal apology for the initial accusation. However, reports indicate that Lambiase later said sorry to Toto Wolff after being shown footage of the on-track moment.
"This is complete and utter rubbish. That blows my mind even to hear that," said Wolff. "We are battling for P2 in the team standings... How foolish can you be to even suggest something like this?"
Wolff explained that he had cleared the air with Lambiase, who stated he had not seen the actual incident when he made the comment. The team noted a "1,100% increase" in negative traffic targeting Antonelli after the race.
For his part, Antonelli explained the racing incident as a error. He commented he was driving aggressively to catch Carlos Sainz and had a "massive moment" that led him to go off track and lose the position.
"It was really hard with the dirty air and the high tyre temperatures," Antonelli remarked. "It's disappointing to lose the place because it would have been additional points."
Main Takeaways from the Incident
- Red Bull has expressed regret for radio remarks made by a team member.
- Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli was targeted by severe online abuse in the wake of those comments.
- The disputed comment involved an on-track pass that affected the championship standings.
- Video replays confirm Antonelli made a mistake, contradicting the suggestion of team orders.
- The individual in question has apologised to Mercedes management.