🔗 Share this article Red Bull Expresses Remorse Regarding Remarks Linked to Death Threats Against Driver Kimi Antonelli Max Verstappen's victory in Qatar pushes a dramatic season finale. The Red Bull racing outfit has issued a statement expressing its sincere regret for post-race remarks that preceded widespread social media vitriol, including vile threats, directed at young talent Kimi Antonelli. Antonelli was said to have changed his Instagram profile to a blank image on Monday, a reaction to the abusive comments that appeared on his accounts. Mercedes stated that a number of these messages constituted direct threats against the youngster's life. The situation originated with radio communications during the final laps of the recent race. Red Bull engineer Gianpiero Lambiase remarked over the air that it "appeared as if" Antonelli had "just pulled over" to allow rival driver Lando Norris to pass. This occurrence proved crucial for the championship battle, as the overtake earned him extra points. This increased the Briton's points advantage over Verstappen to a dozen points heading into the final race in Abu Dhabi. In its statement, Red Bull clarified: "Comments made implying that Mercedes driver had intentionally let Lando Norris to overtake are factually wrong. Video evidence shows Antonelli briefly losing control of his car, thereby allowing Norris to pass him. We deeply regret that this has resulted in Kimi being subjected to such abuse." The team's announcement did not include a formal apology for the initial accusation. However, sources indicate that Lambiase subsequently said sorry to Mercedes team principal after reviewing footage of the on-track moment. "This is total, utter nonsense. 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 cleared the air with Lambiase, who claimed he had not seen the actual incident when he made the comment. The team noted a "massive surge" in negative traffic targeting Antonelli after the race. Kimi Antonelli secured a P5 finish at the demanding Qatar Grand Prix. For his part, Antonelli explained the racing incident as a simple mistake. He said he was driving aggressively to catch Carlos Sainz and experienced a "massive moment" that caused him to go off track and lose the position. "It proved really hard with the turbulence and the high tyre temperatures," the driver stated. "It's disappointing to lose the place because it would have been two more points." Key Points from the Incident Red Bull has expressed regret for radio remarks made by a team member. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli received death threats in the wake of those comments. The controversial remark centered on an overtaking move that impacted the title battle. Video evidence confirm Antonelli lost control, debunking the suggestion of team orders. The individual in question has apologised to Mercedes management.
Max Verstappen's victory in Qatar pushes a dramatic season finale. The Red Bull racing outfit has issued a statement expressing its sincere regret for post-race remarks that preceded widespread social media vitriol, including vile threats, directed at young talent Kimi Antonelli. Antonelli was said to have changed his Instagram profile to a blank image on Monday, a reaction to the abusive comments that appeared on his accounts. Mercedes stated that a number of these messages constituted direct threats against the youngster's life. The situation originated with radio communications during the final laps of the recent race. Red Bull engineer Gianpiero Lambiase remarked over the air that it "appeared as if" Antonelli had "just pulled over" to allow rival driver Lando Norris to pass. This occurrence proved crucial for the championship battle, as the overtake earned him extra points. This increased the Briton's points advantage over Verstappen to a dozen points heading into the final race in Abu Dhabi. In its statement, Red Bull clarified: "Comments made implying that Mercedes driver had intentionally let Lando Norris to overtake are factually wrong. Video evidence shows Antonelli briefly losing control of his car, thereby allowing Norris to pass him. We deeply regret that this has resulted in Kimi being subjected to such abuse." The team's announcement did not include a formal apology for the initial accusation. However, sources indicate that Lambiase subsequently said sorry to Mercedes team principal after reviewing footage of the on-track moment. "This is total, utter nonsense. 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 cleared the air with Lambiase, who claimed he had not seen the actual incident when he made the comment. The team noted a "massive surge" in negative traffic targeting Antonelli after the race. Kimi Antonelli secured a P5 finish at the demanding Qatar Grand Prix. For his part, Antonelli explained the racing incident as a simple mistake. He said he was driving aggressively to catch Carlos Sainz and experienced a "massive moment" that caused him to go off track and lose the position. "It proved really hard with the turbulence and the high tyre temperatures," the driver stated. "It's disappointing to lose the place because it would have been two more points." Key Points from the Incident Red Bull has expressed regret for radio remarks made by a team member. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli received death threats in the wake of those comments. The controversial remark centered on an overtaking move that impacted the title battle. Video evidence confirm Antonelli lost control, debunking the suggestion of team orders. The individual in question has apologised to Mercedes management.