Red Bull Backtracks After Antonelli Faces Online Abuse
So, here’s the situation that’s been unfolding around the Qatar Grand Prix, and it’s one of those stories where a simple on-track mistake spiraled into something far bigger than it ever should have. Mercedes’ young driver, Kimi Antonelli, ended up at the center of a social media storm after a late-race incident allowed Lando Norris to slip past him. What should have been a routine racing moment was turned into accusations, and unfortunately, even threats.
The whole drama started on the penultimate lap. Antonelli, who had been pushing hard to catch Carlos Sainz for a possible podium, ran wide at Turn 10. It was a genuine mistake—he explained later that dirty air and overheating tyres made the car tricky to control, and he simply went into Turn 9 a touch too hot, lost the rear, and that carried into the next corner. Norris, who was right behind, naturally took advantage and grabbed fourth place. Those extra two points ended up increasing his championship lead over Max Verstappen from ten to twelve heading into the Abu Dhabi decider.
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But instead of treating it as a racing error, Verstappen’s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, suggested over team radio that it “looked like” Antonelli had just pulled over to let Norris through. Red Bull’s Helmut Marko added to the sentiment, hinting that the rookie had “waved” Norris past. These comments quickly spread online, and the result was a wave of hostility that no driver—especially a 19-year-old in his first season—should be subjected to. Mercedes later confirmed more than a thousand abusive or threatening messages were identified across Antonelli’s social channels. His profile picture went black as moderation tools kicked in to shield him from the worst of it.
Wolff didn’t mince words. He called the initial comments “brainless” and said he couldn’t believe anyone would insinuate deliberate interference, especially when Mercedes were fighting their own battles for championship positions. He emphasized that Antonelli had simply lost control for a moment—something that can happen to any driver under pressure.
Through all of this, Antonelli himself kept things level-headed. He admitted frustration at losing a place so close to the finish but acknowledged that mistakes happen and that he’d review what caused it. Considering the pressure, the stakes, and the noise around him, his composure says a lot.
In the end, it’s a reminder that racing incidents should stay just that—incidents—not fuel for online abuse. And hopefully, this whole episode serves as a wake-up call for everyone watching the title fight unfold.
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