The FIA has issued a statement condemning the abuse directed towards Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli following the Qatar Grand Prix. The 19-year-old rookie received over 1,100 abusive messages, including death threats, after being accused of deliberately letting Lando Norris pass him on the penultimate lap.
The controversy began when Red Bull’s advisor Helmut Marko suggested Antonelli had intentionally allowed Norris to overtake, claiming it was “too obvious”. However, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff dismissed the accusation as “total, utter nonsense” and “brainless”. Red Bull has since retracted its statement and apologized for the online abuse Antonelli received.
In its statement, the FIA emphasized the importance of treating drivers, teams, and officials with respect and compassion. “We stand in support of Kimi Antonelli and urge the wider community, online and offline, to treat drivers, teams, officials, and the whole sporting ecosystem with the respect and compassion that they deserve”.
Antonelli, who had a moment of lost control, has changed his social media profile pictures to all-black in response to the abuse. Mercedes is working with the FIA to address the online harassment and will submit evidence to support the ‘United Against Online Abuse’ initiative.
The incident has sparked concerns about the toxic side of modern sports fandom, highlighting the need for greater accountability and respect in online interactions. As the championship battle heads to Abu Dhabi, Norris now leads Max Verstappen by 12 points, with Antonelli’s mistake potentially playing a crucial role.
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