F1 | Simone Resta defends Kimi Antonelli after online abuse and explains what really happened. Simone Resta defends Kimi Antonelli after the online abuse following the Qatar GP.

F1 | Antonelli: from the fight with Norris to the social media insults. Resta defends him

Simone Resta commented on Kimi Antonelli’s race, defending him from the attacks on social media and explaining what really happened in the final laps. Resta analysed Antonelli’s performance and described his weekend as “on the limit”. The Italian driver fought throughout the entire race. He was fully in recovery mode and closing in on Carlos Sainz, but he also had Lando Norris right behind him. It was a complex situation that required absolute precision. Kimi was simultaneously attacking and defending. However, many believed that Antonelli had let Norris through on purpose, and he became the target of heavy insults online.

Everything started with Norris’s overtake

Simone Resta reconstructs the decisive moment in the final laps. “He had a snap while he was on the limit,” he explains. That small mistake was enough to lose P4 to Lando Norris. The Mercedes driver was on a longer stint than the McLaren driver, which meant his tyres were more worn. Despite the disappointment, the team acknowledged the solidity of his race. Kimi was pushing beyond the limit to catch Carlos Sainz. The overtaken position was simply the result of physics, not a major mistake or an intentional action.

The response to the social media insults received by Antonelli

Simone Resta addressed the extremely negative reactions that Antonelli received after the Grand Prix. “For us it was disappointing. We take online abuse very seriously.”

Mercedes actively worked with its communications department to protect the young driver. Simone Resta also appreciated Red Bull’s public statement, issued the following Monday. “It was positive to read their statement,” he adds. The engineer stresses that the team remains united. The attacks do not change Mercedes’ internal attitude towards Kimi.

Now Mercedes focuses everything on the final race

Simone Resta highlights that drivers, engineers and mechanics remain determined. “We work together to maximise the potential,” he says. Mercedes is aiming to finish the season with a strong result. The team wants to allow its drivers to express all their talent.

Abu Dhabi represents the perfect chance to turn Qatar’s strong underlying pace into a big result and give both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli the send-off they deserve before the 2026 regulation reset.