F1 drivers have shown strong support for Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli following the harsh criticism and abuse he received after the Qatar Grand Prix. The 19-year-old Italian faced a wave of abusive messages on social media, including death threats, after losing a position to McLaren’s Lando Norris late in the race by going wide.
The backlash intensified after Max Verstappen’s race engineer, Giampiero Lambiase, remarked over team radio that Antonelli appeared to have simply let Norris pass. Additionally, Red Bull’s Helmut Marko accused the Mercedes driver of deliberately allowing the overtaking. Following a late adjustment in race standings, Norris gained two points and now leads Verstappen by 12 points heading into the decisive Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The abuse aimed at Antonelli has been widely condemned by fellow F1 drivers and the FIA, with Haas driver Ollie Bearman strongly criticizing the toxic behavior. Bearman described online trolls as “the scum of the earth” and emphasized how harmful such attacks can be, especially for newcomers to the sport. He highlighted the dedication and risks drivers take to entertain fans and called the personal attacks “a joke” and unacceptable.
While Bearman noted he hasn’t experienced such intense abuse, he acknowledged that starting at a less high-profile team like Haas offers some protection from harsh criticism. Meanwhile, Red Bull expressed regret over the comments made after the race, with Marko apologizing and retracting his accusations. Antonelli’s teammate and GPDA president George Russell remarked that the situation stemmed from a misunderstanding by Red Bull, but lamented the severity of the online harassment that followed.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc also criticized the disrespect and emphasized that mistakes are a natural part of racing, calling the hateful comments “completely futile.” Future Red Bull driver Isaac Hajjar bluntly referred to those sending abuse as “idiots.”
Antonelli revealed he received supportive messages from both Verstappen and Norris and personally spoke with Verstappen and Lambiase to clarify the incident. He explained that his mistake, caused by tire degradation after pushing hard for laps in dirty air, led to Norris overtaking him. Antonelli expressed how painful it was to face such harsh comments for something he would never intentionally do.
Fan Take: This incident highlights the intense pressure young drivers face in Formula 1 and the damaging impact of toxic online behavior. Racing fans should rally behind emerging talents like Antonelli to foster a more respectful and supportive environment, preserving the spirit of true sportsmanship in the sport.
