Red Bull Expresses Regret Regarding Comments Following Death Threats Against Driver Kimi Antonelli

The Red Bull Formula 1 team has issued a statement stating its sincere regret for comments made that were followed by a torrent of online abuse, including death threats, directed at young talent 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 stated that several of these messages constituted threats against the driver's life.

The controversy originated with radio communications during the closing stages of the Qatar Grand Prix. Red Bull engineer Gianpiero Lambiase 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 championship battle, as Norris's pass secured 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 clarified: "Comments voiced suggesting that Mercedes driver had deliberately allowed Lando Norris past are clearly incorrect. Video evidence shows Antonelli momentarily losing control of his car, thereby allowing Norris to pass him. We deeply regret that this has led to Kimi being subjected to online abuse."

The team's announcement stopped short of a formal apology for the original claim. However, reports indicate that Lambiase subsequently said sorry to Mercedes team principal after reviewing footage of the on-track moment.

"This is total, utter nonsense. That blows my mind even to hear that," said Wolff. "We are battling for P2 in the team standings... How foolish can you be to even suggest something like this?"

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

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

"It proved really hard with the turbulence and the high tyre temperatures," 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 expressed regret for radio remarks made by a staff member.
• Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli was targeted by severe online abuse in the wake of those comments.
• The controversial remark centered on an overtaking move that impacted the title battle.
• Video evidence confirm Antonelli made a mistake, contradicting the suggestion of deliberate action.
• The engineer involved has apologised to Mercedes team leadership.