Red Bull Retracts 'Incorrect' Antonelli Comments After Online Abuse

Red Bull has issued a retraction and apology after staff comments accusing Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli of deliberately letting Lando Norris pass led to severe online abuse against Antonelli. The team acknowledged that replay footage showed Antonelli momentarily lost control, not intentionally yielding position.

Why it matters:

Red Bull's initial, unfounded claims ignited a firestorm of online abuse, highlighting the pervasive issue of toxicity in motorsport. The incident underscores the responsibility of team personnel to verify information before making public statements, especially when such comments can fuel harmful narratives and impact driver well-being.

The Details:

• Initial Accusations: During the Qatar GP, Max Verstappen's race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, and senior advisor Helmut Marko suggested Kimi Antonelli "pulled over" to let Lando Norris pass, implying a deliberate act to hinder Verstappen's title bid.
• Red Bull's Retraction: The team later released a statement clarifying, "Comments made before the end of and immediately after the Qatar GP suggesting that Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli had deliberately allowed Lando Norris to overtake him are clearly incorrect." They added, "Replay footage shows Antonelli momentarily losing control of his car, thus allowing Norris to pass him."
• Online Abuse: Following the accusations, Antonelli received over 1,100 severe or suspect comments on his social media, including death threats. He subsequently changed his profile picture to black.
• Mercedes' Response: Mercedes CEO Toto Wolff condemned Red Bull's claims as "total, utter nonsense," emphasizing that Antonelli was fighting for P3 and it was a "brainless" suggestion. Mercedes also announced they would share data on the online abuse with the FIA as part of their United Against Online Abuse campaign.
• Marko's Apology: Helmut Marko later apologized, stating, "The second time, it was a driving error and not intentional. I'm sorry that Antonelli got so much flak online. To make it perfectly clear: He didn't let Norris past intentionally."

The Big Picture:

This incident is not isolated, as online abuse has become a significant concern in Formula 1. Drivers often face intense scrutiny and personal attacks, underscoring the need for greater accountability from teams and media figures. The FIA's 'United Against Online Abuse' campaign seeks to address this, but such incidents demonstrate the ongoing challenge.

What's next:

Mercedes plans to work with the FIA to address the online abuse Antonelli received, reinforcing the industry-wide effort to combat harmful behavior on social media. This incident will likely reignite discussions about ethical conduct and the impact of unverified comments within the F1 paddock.