F1 | Red Bull apologizes to Antonelli: “Comments were wrong, we are sorry”
Red Bull Racing has issued an apology for the inappropriate comments made by Helmut Marko regarding Andrea Kimi Antonelli after the Qatar Grand Prix, emphasizing that the Italian driver was overtaken by Lando Norris due to a driving error, not through a deliberate maneuver.
With a clear mind, it becomes easier to understand what was done intentionally and what was not. Red Bull Racing acknowledged the mistake: earlier today, the team led by Laurent Mekies released a short statement addressing the accusations against Andrea Kimi Antonelli following the Qatar Grand Prix and offering an official apology.
“The comments made before the end of, and immediately after, the Qatar GP suggesting that Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli deliberately let Lando Norris pass are clearly wrong,” the Milton Keynes team stated.
“The replay shows that Antonelli briefly lost control of his car, allowing Norris to overtake. We are truly sorry that this led to Kimi receiving online abuse.”
This gesture will certainly be appreciated by Antonelli and Mercedes, putting an end to the heated exchange that took place yesterday evening between Helmut Marko, advisor to Red Bull Racing, and Toto Wolff, Mercedes team principal.
Shortly after the hybrid V6 engines finished the Lusail race, Helmut Marko accused Andrea Kimi Antonelli of deliberately letting Lando Norris pass in the final laps, giving the British driver a 12-point advantage heading into Abu Dhabi instead of the 10 points he would have earned finishing fifth.
The difference was significant: with a 12-point lead, Lando would only need to finish on the podium to secure his first career world championship, while with 10 points, third place would not have been enough, requiring him to finish first or second (with Max Verstappen ahead).
“I am annoyed by what happened between Antonelli and Norris, because Kimi let him pass practically twice. I think it’s obvious he let him through. He did the same thing twice,” said the Austrian advisor.
Wolff’s response was immediate: “It’s complete nonsense and leaves me speechless just hearing it. We are fighting for second place in the championship, which is important to us. Kimi was competing for a potential third place. Honestly, how stupid do you have to be to say something like that?”
Now Red Bull, acknowledging Antonelli’s minor mistake before Lando Norris’s overtake, has chosen to intervene, apologizing to Andrea and Mercedes not only for Marko’s words but also—and more importantly—for the numerous social media insults, which clearly went far beyond any acceptable criticism, directed at the young Italian driver.
This closes a regrettable chapter in Formula 1, which, despite such incidents, continues to deliver an incredible and thrilling end to the 2025 season.
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