Red Bull has stepped into the centre of the Antonelli situation, issuing a clear and direct statement that addresses the growing controversy surrounding Lando Norris’s overtake in Losail. The debate, which erupted in the aftermath of the Qatar Grand Prix, had spiralled into speculation accusing Kimi Antonelli of intentionally allowing the McLaren driver through in order to compromise Max Verstappen’s race. The theory quickly spread online, fueling a wave of hostility toward the young Mercedes driver.
What happened in Qatar: from criticism to threats
In the hours following the race, Kimi Antonelli became the target of intense online abuse and personal attacks. Some comments went as far as suggesting an orchestrated plan against Verstappen, a narrative inflated by heated remarks in the paddock and further amplified by the team radio message from Gianpiero Lambiase, Max Verstappen’s race engineer, immediately after the chequered flag. The situation escalated to the point where Kimi Antonelli’s social media channels became almost unmanageable, prompting him to temporarily enter a kind of digital mourning to slow down the hostile wave.
At the same time, Mercedes expressed its intention to appeal to the FIA, highlighting the toxic environment that had formed around its young driver. The team requested concrete measures to counter the escalation of online hate and protect those directly involved.
Red Bull’s statement and its condemnation of the abuse
Red Bull released an unusually direct statement, aiming to shut down speculation and refocus attention on the facts. In the official note, the team made it clear that any interpretation suggesting Antonelli intentionally helped Norris is entirely baseless.
“The claims made before the end and immediately after the Qatar Grand Prix, which stated that Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli intentionally let Lando Norris through, are clearly inaccurate,” the Red Bull statement said.
“The footage shows that Antonelli momentarily lost control of the car, which allowed Norris to complete the overtake. We express our sincere regret that this led to Kimi receiving abuse online.”
Replay analysis and the dynamics of the incident
Red Bull underlined that the replays clearly show a brief moment of rear-end instability that caused Antonelli to lose the car for a fraction of a second. Norris simply seized the opportunity, completing the move without any external strategy or hidden motive behind it.
The larger issue of online abuse has again become a central talking point. Red Bull’s decisive stance aims to cool an increasingly tense environment and push back against toxic narratives that have nothing to do with genuine sporting competition. Their intervention represents an important step in defending the young Italian rookie, who has found himself in the middle of an emotionally challenging situation.
It is also a strong reminder that driver abuse – especially aimed at the sport’s youngest talents – has no place in modern Formula 1. With the title fight heading to a nail-biting conclusion in Abu Dhabi, the focus can now return to the racing, exactly where it belongs.
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