Mercedes Appreciates Red Bull's Statement Amid Antonelli Abuse

Mercedes has publicly acknowledged Red Bull's statement regarding the online abuse, including death threats, directed at young driver Kimi Antonelli. This comes after comments from Red Bull's camp following a late-race incident in Qatar sparked controversy and fueled a wave of negative attention towards Antonelli.

Why it matters:

This incident highlights the growing problem of online abuse faced by F1 drivers and the importance of solidarity among teams. While fierce rivals on track, the joint condemnation of such harmful behavior sets a precedent for a more respectful environment in motorsport, especially when young talents are involved. The initial remarks from Red Bull figures, even if later retracted, demonstrated how quickly unverified assumptions can escalate into serious online harassment.

The Details:

• The Incident: During the Qatar Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli made an error on the penultimate lap, allowing Lando Norris to overtake him for fourth place. This directly impacted Max Verstappen's championship lead, reducing it from 10 points to 12 points ahead of the Abu Dhabi decider.
• Initial Red Bull Remarks: Max Verstappen's race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, immediately suggested over team radio that Antonelli "moved aside" for Norris. Post-race, Red Bull senior advisor Helmut Marko also claimed Antonelli's move was deliberate, implying he favored McLaren (who use Mercedes engines).
• Antonelli's Reaction: Following these comments and the subsequent online backlash, Antonelli reportedly blacked out his social media profile pictures, a direct response to the severe abuse, including death threats, he received.
• Red Bull's Retraction: Red Bull later issued an official statement retracting their earlier suggestions. The statement clarified, "Replay footage shows Antonelli momentarily losing control of his car, thus allowing Norris to pass him. We sincerely regret that this has led to Kimi receiving online abuse."
• Mercedes' Response: Simone Resta, Mercedes' strategic development director, expressed gratitude for Red Bull's statement in Mercedes' Qatar GP debrief video. He stated, "For us, for all the team, it's quite disappointing. And we take online abuse very seriously." He added, "It was great to see on Monday, a statement from Red Bull, stating their position. We really appreciated this one."

What's next:

As both Mercedes and Red Bull prepare for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where they will battle for second place in the Constructors' Championship, this show of unity against online abuse is a positive sign. Mercedes, currently holding a 33-point advantage over Red Bull, remains focused on maximizing their performance to secure P2. The broader F1 community will likely continue to address and implement measures to protect drivers from online harassment, ensuring that young talents like Antonelli can compete without fear of such severe personal attacks. The FIA has also issued a statement regarding the death threats, signaling a collective effort to combat such behavior.