đź”— Share this article The Red Bull team Voices Remorse Regarding Comments Linked to Death Threats Against Mercedes Star Kimi Antonelli Max Verstappen's victory in Qatar sets up a dramatic championship decider. The Red Bull Formula 1 team has issued a statement stating its deep remorse for post-race remarks that preceded a torrent of social media vitriol, including vile threats, directed at young talent Kimi Antonelli. Antonelli was said to have changed his social media picture to a solid black image on Monday, a reaction to the hurtful messages that appeared on his accounts. His team stated that a number of these messages included direct threats against the youngster's life. The controversy originated with team radio during the final laps of the recent race. Red Bull engineer Gianpiero Lambiase suggested over the air that it "appeared as if" Antonelli had "just pulled over" to allow rival driver Lando Norris through. This incident proved crucial for the championship battle, as Norris's pass earned him extra points. This extended the McLaren driver's championship lead 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 clearly incorrect. Replay footage demonstrates Antonelli momentarily losing control of his car, thus allowing Norris to get by. We deeply regret that this has led to Kimi receiving such abuse." The team's announcement stopped short of a direct apology for the initial accusation. However, sources indicate that Lambiase later said sorry to Toto Wolff after reviewing video evidence of the incident. "This is total, utter nonsense. That blows my mind even to hear that," stated Wolff. "We are battling 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 stated he did not witness the actual incident when he made the comment. The team noted a "massive surge" in abusive messages targeting Antonelli following the Grand Prix. Kimi Antonelli secured a P5 finish at the challenging Qatar Grand Prix. For his part, Antonelli described the moment as a error. He commented he was pushing hard to catch Carlos Sainz and experienced a "big snap" that caused him to go off track and lose the position. "It was really hard with the dirty air and the high tyre temperatures," Antonelli remarked. "A shame to lose the place because it would have been two more points." Key Points from the Situation 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 controversial remark involved an on-track pass that impacted the championship standings. Video replays show Antonelli lost control, debunking the implication of deliberate action. The individual in question has expressed regret to Mercedes management.
Max Verstappen's victory in Qatar sets up a dramatic championship decider. The Red Bull Formula 1 team has issued a statement stating its deep remorse for post-race remarks that preceded a torrent of social media vitriol, including vile threats, directed at young talent Kimi Antonelli. Antonelli was said to have changed his social media picture to a solid black image on Monday, a reaction to the hurtful messages that appeared on his accounts. His team stated that a number of these messages included direct threats against the youngster's life. The controversy originated with team radio during the final laps of the recent race. Red Bull engineer Gianpiero Lambiase suggested over the air that it "appeared as if" Antonelli had "just pulled over" to allow rival driver Lando Norris through. This incident proved crucial for the championship battle, as Norris's pass earned him extra points. This extended the McLaren driver's championship lead 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 clearly incorrect. Replay footage demonstrates Antonelli momentarily losing control of his car, thus allowing Norris to get by. We deeply regret that this has led to Kimi receiving such abuse." The team's announcement stopped short of a direct apology for the initial accusation. However, sources indicate that Lambiase later said sorry to Toto Wolff after reviewing video evidence of the incident. "This is total, utter nonsense. That blows my mind even to hear that," stated Wolff. "We are battling 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 stated he did not witness the actual incident when he made the comment. The team noted a "massive surge" in abusive messages targeting Antonelli following the Grand Prix. Kimi Antonelli secured a P5 finish at the challenging Qatar Grand Prix. For his part, Antonelli described the moment as a error. He commented he was pushing hard to catch Carlos Sainz and experienced a "big snap" that caused him to go off track and lose the position. "It was really hard with the dirty air and the high tyre temperatures," Antonelli remarked. "A shame to lose the place because it would have been two more points." Key Points from the Situation 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 controversial remark involved an on-track pass that impacted the championship standings. Video replays show Antonelli lost control, debunking the implication of deliberate action. The individual in question has expressed regret to Mercedes management.