Red Bull Expresses Remorse Regarding Comments Linked to Death Threats Targeting Mercedes Star Kimi Antonelli

The Red Bull Formula 1 team has issued a statement stating its deep remorse for comments made that preceded a torrent of online abuse, including death threats, directed at young talent Kimi Antonelli.

Antonelli was said to have changed his Instagram profile to a solid black image on Monday, a reaction to the hurtful messages that appeared on his accounts. Mercedes stated that several of these communications constituted direct threats against the youngster's life.

The situation stems from radio communications during the closing stages of the Qatar Grand Prix. Red Bull engineer Gianpiero Lambiase remarked over the air that it "looked like" Antonelli had "deliberately moved aside" to allow McLaren's Lando Norris to pass.

This occurrence proved crucial 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 final race in Abu Dhabi.

In its statement, Red Bull asserted: "Observations voiced suggesting that Kimi Antonelli had deliberately allowed Lando Norris past are clearly incorrect. Replay footage shows Antonelli momentarily losing control of his car, thus allowing Norris to pass him. We deeply regret that this has resulted in Kimi receiving such abuse."

The team's announcement did not include a direct apology for the original claim. However, reports indicate that Lambiase subsequently apologised to Mercedes team principal after being shown footage of the incident.

"This is total, utter nonsense. That blows my mind even to hear that," stated Wolff. "We are fighting for P2 in the constructors' championship... How brainless can you be to even suggest something like this?"

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

For his part, Antonelli described the moment as a error. He said he was driving aggressively to close on Carlos Sainz and experienced a "big snap" that led him to run wide and lose the position.

"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."

Key Points from the Situation

• Red Bull has voiced remorse for comments made by a staff member.
• Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli received severe online abuse in the wake of those comments.
• The disputed comment involved an overtaking move that impacted the title battle.
• Video evidence show Antonelli made a mistake, contradicting the implication of team orders.
• The engineer involved has expressed regret to Mercedes team leadership.