Red Bull Voices Remorse Regarding Comments Following Online Abuse Targeting Driver Kimi Antonelli

The Red Bull racing outfit has issued a statement expressing its deep remorse for comments made that preceded a torrent of online abuse, including death threats, directed at Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli.

Antonelli was said to have switched his Instagram profile to a blank image on Monday, a response to the abusive comments that appeared on his accounts. His team stated that a number of these messages included direct threats against the driver's life.

The situation originated with radio communications during the final laps of the Qatar Grand Prix. Red Bull engineer Gianpiero Lambiase remarked over the air that it "appeared as if" Antonelli had "deliberately moved aside" to allow McLaren's Lando Norris through.

This occurrence proved significant for the title fight, as Norris's pass earned him extra points. This increased the McLaren driver's points advantage over Verstappen to 12 points heading into the final race in Abu Dhabi.

In its official communication, Red Bull clarified: "Observations voiced implying that Kimi Antonelli had deliberately allowed Lando Norris to overtake are clearly incorrect. Video evidence demonstrates Antonelli momentarily losing control of his car, thereby allowing Norris to get by. We sincerely regret that this has resulted in Kimi receiving online abuse."

The team's statement did not include a formal apology for the initial accusation. However, reports indicate that Lambiase subsequently said sorry to Toto Wolff after being shown video evidence of the on-track moment.

"This is total, utter nonsense. That astounds me even to hear that," stated Wolff. "We are battling for P2 in the team standings... How brainless can you be to even suggest something like this?"

Wolff added that he had spoken with Lambiase, who claimed he did not witness the moment when he made the comment. The team reported a "massive surge" in negative traffic targeting Antonelli after the Grand Prix.

For his part, Antonelli explained the racing incident as a simple mistake. He said he was pushing hard to catch the Williams ahead and had a "big snap" that caused him to run wide and surrender fourth place.

"It proved really hard with the turbulence and the high tyre temperatures," Antonelli remarked. "It's disappointing to lose the place because it would have been additional points."

Key Points from the Situation

• Red Bull has voiced remorse for radio remarks made by a staff member.
• Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli was targeted by death threats in the aftermath of those comments.
• The controversial remark centered on an overtaking move that impacted the championship standings.
• Video evidence show Antonelli made a mistake, debunking the implication of team orders.
• The individual in question has expressed regret to Mercedes team leadership.