Red Bull Expresses Remorse Over Comments Following Online Abuse Against Driver Kimi Antonelli

The Red Bull Formula 1 team has issued a statement expressing its sincere regret for post-race remarks 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 response to the hurtful messages that flooded his accounts. His team confirmed that several of these communications included threats against the youngster'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 "looked like" Antonelli had "just pulled over" to allow McLaren's Lando Norris to pass.

This incident proved crucial for the title fight, as the overtake secured extra points. This extended the McLaren driver's championship lead over Verstappen to 12 points heading into the final race in Abu Dhabi.

In its official communication, Red Bull clarified: "Observations voiced suggesting that Mercedes driver had deliberately allowed Lando Norris past are clearly incorrect. Replay footage shows Antonelli momentarily losing control of his car, thereby allowing Norris to get by. We deeply regret that this has resulted in Kimi receiving such abuse."

The team's statement did not include a direct apology for the initial accusation. However, reports indicate that Lambiase later said sorry to Mercedes team principal after reviewing video evidence of the on-track moment.

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

Wolff explained that he had cleared the air with Lambiase, who stated he did not witness the moment when he made the comment. Mercedes reported a "1,100% increase" in abusive messages targeting Antonelli after the race.

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 led him to go off track and surrender fourth place.

"It was really hard with the dirty air and the tyres were overheating," the driver stated. "It's disappointing to lose the place because it would have been additional points."

Main Takeaways 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 disputed comment involved an on-track pass that impacted the championship standings.
• Video replays confirm Antonelli made a mistake, debunking the suggestion of team orders.
• The individual in question has expressed regret to Mercedes management.