Antonelli Responds to Norris Incident in Qatar GP
Kimi Antonelli is confident he could have held off Lando Norris for fourth place at the Qatar GP, attributing his loss of position to a late-race mistake. The incident sparked controversy, with Red Bull accusing Antonelli of intentionally letting Norris pass, leading to a significant increase in online abuse and death threats directed at the Mercedes rookie. Antonelli maintains his pace was strong, and Mercedes is now engaging the FIA over the severe social media backlash.
Kimi Antonelli firmly believes he could have secured fourth place in the Qatar Grand Prix, holding off Lando Norris, had it not been for a critical mistake on the penultimate lap. This incident, which saw Norris gain two crucial points in his title fight, sparked immediate controversy and accusations from Red Bull, leading to a surge of online abuse directed at Antonelli and Mercedes.
Why it matters:
- The contentious pass significantly impacted the championship standings, giving Lando Norris a 12-point lead over Max Verstappen heading into the Abu Dhabi showdown, instead of 10.
- Red Bull's immediate accusations of Antonelli 'pulling over' for Norris fueled a wave of online abuse, including death threats, highlighting the intense pressure and scrutiny young drivers face in F1.
- The incident underscores the fine margins and high stakes in Formula 1, where a single mistake can alter championship trajectories and ignite heated controversy.
The Details:
- The Incident: On Lap 56 of 57 in Qatar, Antonelli, driving the Mercedes, ran wide through Turns 9 and 10 while running in fourth place. This error allowed Lando Norris to overtake him and claim fourth, securing 12 points instead of 10 for fifth.
- Red Bull's Claims: Max Verstappen's race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, immediately claimed Antonelli had "pulled over" to let Norris through, without having seen the incident. Helmut Marko of Red Bull also suggested the move was intentional.
- Consequences of Accusations: Following Red Bull's remarks, Antonelli and Mercedes experienced a dramatic 1100% increase in social media abuse, including death threats.
- Mercedes' Response: Mercedes is reportedly taking action with the FIA regarding the abuse. Red Bull has since issued a statement "regretting" the abuse suffered by the rookie driver.
- Antonelli's Perspective: Antonelli, speaking to RacingNews365, expressed certainty that he had the pace to hold off Norris. "I was comfortable because he came with so much more pace, but then in the dirty air, he couldn't get past, so I was pretty comfortable," Antonelli stated, adding, "He was even out of DRS for a couple of laps, so yeah, I felt like I could have held him off, but I just made a mistake."
The Big Picture:
Antonelli's recent performances, including battles with title contenders like Verstappen in Brazil for second place, demonstrate his growing confidence and potential. He highlighted a strong second half of the season, consistently fighting at the front. "Overall, the second half of the season has been much stronger, and we've been fighting at the front more often, which is exciting," he said. He acknowledged areas for improvement but expressed satisfaction with the progress, looking to maintain momentum as preparations for 2026 begin.
What's next:
Antonelli aims to finish the current year on a high note, leveraging his improved performance and experience gained from battling top drivers. His focus remains on continuous improvement and carrying this momentum into the 2026 season, which he believes will be a crucial turning point for his career with Mercedes.