Mercedes has taken action after Kimi Antonelli received online abuse and death threats following the Qatar Grand Prix. The 19-year-old driver was accused of deliberately letting Lando Norris pass him on the penultimate lap, allowing the McLaren driver to gain crucial championship points.
Red Bull’s advisor Helmut Marko sparked the controversy, claiming Antonelli “waved” Norris by, but Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff swiftly dismissed the accusation as “total, utter nonsense” and “brainless”. Wolff emphasized that Mercedes wouldn’t intentionally interfere with the driver championship, questioning why they would risk compromising their own position.
The incident occurred when Antonelli lost control of his car, allowing Norris to overtake him. Antonelli explained that he was pushing hard and simply made a mistake, stating, “I was trying to do my race, I was trying to get to the podium… just lost the rear and went off track, that wasn’t on purpose”.
Red Bull has since issued a statement regretting the online abuse Antonelli received, acknowledging that their initial comments were “clearly incorrect”. Mercedes is now working with the FIA to address the online abuse, with Wolff condemning the “nasty messages and even death threats” Antonelli received.
The controversy has added an extra layer of drama to the championship battle, with Norris now leading Max Verstappen by 12 points heading into the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Antonelli’s mistake may have had significant implications, but his mistake has sparked a wider conversation about sportsmanship and online behavior.
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