Mercedes takes action after Kimi Antonelli receives death threats following Qatar GP. Mercedes will appeal to the FIA following death threats targeting Kimi Antonelli on social media.

Mercedes is set to appeal to the FIA after Kimi Antonelli received death threats on social media following the Qatar Grand Prix. The Italian rookie found himself at the centre of controversy after a mistake in the penultimate lap allowed Lando Norris to secure fourth place.

With this move, the McLaren driver will head to Abu Dhabi with a 12-point lead over Max Verstappen. While these points might seem minor, they are crucial when the World Championship is on the line.

Online abuse escalates

After the race, Kimi Antonelli faced a wave of criticism on social media for the incident, prompting the 19-year-old to change his profile picture to a black icon—a symbolic gesture that could represent mourning, frustration, or even the “death” of fair play in the sport. Unfortunately, this reflects the toxic environment fostered by a section of fans who hide behind their keyboards to spread hate.

Despite Kimi Antonelli having a significant base of online supporters, negative comments and personal attacks have been relentless.

Mercedes steps in

The situation could no longer be ignored, which is why Mercedes decided to take official action. According to Telegraaf, the social media attacks had crossed a dangerous line, escalating to death threats. The Brackley-based team is treating the matter with utmost seriousness. To support their case, Mercedes will present the threatening messages and comments to the FIA, the governing body of Formula 1, so that proper intervention can occur.

Not just fans: Marko’s remarks add fuel to the fire

The hostility toward Kimi Antonelli intensified following comments from Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, who accused the young driver of deliberately letting Norris through. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff did not hesitate to defend Antonelli, calling Marko’s statement “brainless” and firmly standing by his rookie driver.

As the paddock prepares for the title-deciding Abu Dhabi weekend, the hope is that this ugly episode forces the entire F1 community – teams, drivers, fans and authorities – to finally confront the growing poison of toxic fandom once and for all.