Red Bull Voices Remorse Over Remarks Following Online Abuse Against Mercedes Star Kimi Antonelli
The Red Bull racing outfit has issued a statement expressing its deep remorse for comments made that were followed by a torrent of social media vitriol, including vile threats, directed at young talent Kimi Antonelli.
Antonelli reportedly changed his Instagram profile to a blank image on Monday, a response to the abusive comments that flooded his accounts. His team stated that a number of these messages included direct threats against the driver's life.
The controversy stems from radio communications during the final laps of the recent race. Max Verstappen's race engineer remarked over the air that it "appeared as if" Antonelli had "just pulled over" to let rival driver Lando Norris to pass.
This occurrence proved significant for the championship battle, as Norris's pass earned him extra points. This increased the Briton's championship lead over Verstappen to 12 points ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
In its official communication, Red Bull asserted: "Observations voiced suggesting that Kimi Antonelli had intentionally let Lando Norris past are clearly incorrect. Video evidence demonstrates Antonelli briefly losing control of his car, thus allowing Norris to pass him. We sincerely regret that this has resulted in Kimi receiving such abuse."
The team's statement stopped short of a direct apology for the initial accusation. However, sources indicate that Lambiase later apologised to Mercedes team principal after reviewing video evidence of the on-track moment.
"This is complete and utter rubbish. That astounds me even to hear that," stated Wolff. "We are battling for P2 in the constructors' championship... How brainless can you be to even suggest something like this?"
Wolff added that he had cleared the air with Lambiase, who stated he did not witness the moment when he made the comment. The team reported a "massive surge" in negative traffic targeting Antonelli after the race.
For his part, Antonelli explained the moment as a simple mistake. He commented he was pushing hard to catch Carlos Sainz and had a "massive moment" that caused him to run wide and lose the position.
"It proved 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 additional points."
Key Points from the Incident
- Red Bull has expressed regret for comments made by a team member.
- Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli received severe online abuse in the wake of those comments.
- The controversial remark centered on an overtaking move that affected the title battle.
- Video evidence show Antonelli made a mistake, debunking the suggestion of deliberate action.
- The individual in question has expressed regret to Mercedes team leadership.
