The Red Bull team Expresses Regret Regarding Comments Following Online Abuse Targeting Driver Kimi Antonelli

The Red Bull racing outfit has released a comment expressing its deep remorse for comments made that were followed by a torrent of social media vitriol, including death threats, directed at young talent Kimi Antonelli.

Antonelli reportedly changed his Instagram profile to a solid black image on Monday, a reaction to the abusive comments that appeared on his accounts. Mercedes stated that several of these messages constituted threats against the driver's life.

The situation stems from radio communications during the final laps of the Qatar Grand Prix. Red Bull engineer Gianpiero Lambiase suggested over the air that it "looked like" Antonelli had "deliberately moved aside" to allow McLaren's Lando Norris to pass.

This occurrence proved crucial for the championship battle, as Norris's pass secured two additional points. This extended the Briton's points advantage over Verstappen to 12 points ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

In its official communication, Red Bull asserted: "Comments voiced suggesting that Kimi Antonelli had deliberately allowed Lando Norris past are factually wrong. Replay footage demonstrates Antonelli momentarily losing control of his car, thereby enabling Norris to pass him. We sincerely regret that this has resulted in Kimi receiving online abuse."

The team's announcement stopped short of a direct apology for the initial accusation. However, sources indicate that Lambiase subsequently said sorry to Mercedes team principal after being shown video evidence of the on-track moment.

"This is total, utter nonsense. That blows my mind even to hear that," said Wolff. "We are fighting for second place in the constructors' championship... How brainless can you be to even say something like this?"

Wolff added that he had cleared the air with Lambiase, who claimed he did not witness the actual incident when he spoke over the radio. The team noted a "1,100% increase" in abusive messages targeting Antonelli after the race.

For his part, Antonelli explained the racing incident as a error. He commented he was driving aggressively to close on Carlos Sainz and had a "big snap" that caused him to run wide and lose the position.

"It was really hard with the dirty air and the tyres were overheating," the driver stated. "A shame to lose the place because it would have been two more points."

Main Takeaways from the Incident

• Red Bull has voiced remorse for comments made by a staff member.
• Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli was targeted by severe online abuse in the aftermath of those comments.
• The disputed comment centered on an on-track pass that affected the title battle.
• Video evidence confirm Antonelli made a mistake, debunking the implication of deliberate action.
• The individual in question has apologised to Mercedes management.