The Red Bull team Expresses Regret Regarding Remarks Linked to Online Abuse Targeting Driver Kimi Antonelli

The Red Bull racing outfit has issued a statement stating its sincere regret for post-race remarks that were followed by widespread online abuse, including vile threats, directed at Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli.

Antonelli was said to have changed his social media picture to a blank image on Monday, a response to the abusive comments that appeared on his accounts. His team confirmed that several of these communications constituted direct threats against the driver's life.

The controversy stems from team radio during the closing stages of the Qatar Grand Prix. Max Verstappen's race engineer remarked over the air that it "appeared as if" Antonelli had "deliberately moved aside" to allow McLaren's Lando Norris through.

This occurrence proved crucial for the title fight, as Norris's pass earned him two additional points. This increased the Briton's points advantage over Verstappen to 12 points ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi.

In its statement, Red Bull clarified: "Comments made implying that Kimi Antonelli had deliberately allowed Lando Norris past are clearly incorrect. Video evidence demonstrates Antonelli momentarily losing control of his car, thereby enabling Norris to pass him. We deeply regret that this has resulted in Kimi being subjected to online abuse."

The team's announcement did not include a direct apology for the original claim. However, sources indicate that Lambiase subsequently said sorry to Mercedes team principal after being shown video evidence of the incident.

"This is total, utter nonsense. That astounds me even to hear that," stated Wolff. "We are fighting for second place in the team standings... How foolish can you be to even suggest something like this?"

Wolff added that he had spoken with Lambiase, who claimed he had not seen the actual incident when he made the comment. Mercedes noted a "massive surge" in negative traffic targeting Antonelli after the race.

For his part, Antonelli explained the racing incident as a simple mistake. He commented he was driving aggressively to close on Carlos Sainz and had a "big snap" that caused him to go off track and surrender fourth place.

"It was really hard with the turbulence and the tyres were overheating," 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 voiced remorse for comments made by a staff member.
• Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli received death threats in the wake of those comments.
• The disputed comment involved an on-track pass that impacted the championship standings.
• Video evidence confirm Antonelli lost control, contradicting the implication of deliberate action.
• The individual in question has expressed regret to Mercedes team leadership.