Red Bull Voices Remorse Over Remarks Following Death Threats Targeting Mercedes Star Kimi Antonelli

The Red Bull racing outfit has released a comment stating its deep remorse for post-race remarks that preceded widespread social media vitriol, including death threats, directed at young talent Kimi Antonelli.

Antonelli reportedly switched his social media picture to a solid black image on Monday, a reaction 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 stems from radio communications during the closing stages of the recent race. Max Verstappen's race engineer suggested over the air that it "appeared as if" Antonelli had "just pulled over" to let rival driver Lando Norris through.

This incident proved significant for the championship battle, as Norris's pass earned him extra points. This extended the McLaren driver's championship lead over Verstappen to a dozen points heading into the final race in Abu Dhabi.

In its statement, Red Bull asserted: "Comments made suggesting that Mercedes driver had intentionally let Lando Norris past are factually wrong. Video evidence demonstrates Antonelli momentarily losing control of his car, thus enabling Norris to pass him. We sincerely regret that this has led to Kimi receiving online abuse."

The team's announcement did not include a direct apology for the original claim. However, sources indicate that Lambiase later said sorry to Mercedes team principal after reviewing video evidence of the incident.

"This is complete and utter rubbish. That astounds me even to hear that," said Wolff. "We are battling for second place in the constructors' championship... How foolish can you be to even say something like this?"

Wolff explained that he had spoken with Lambiase, who claimed he had not seen the actual incident when he spoke over the radio. Mercedes reported a "massive surge" in negative traffic targeting Antonelli following the Grand Prix.

For his part, Antonelli explained the moment as a simple mistake. He commented he was pushing hard to close on Carlos Sainz and had a "big snap" that led him to go off track and surrender fourth place.

"It was really hard with the dirty air and the high tyre temperatures," the driver stated. "It's disappointing to lose the place because it would have been additional points."

Key Points from the Situation

• Red Bull has expressed regret for radio remarks made by a team member.
• Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli received severe online abuse in the aftermath of those comments.
• The disputed comment involved an on-track pass that impacted the title battle.
• Video replays show Antonelli lost control, debunking the suggestion of deliberate action.
• The engineer involved has apologised to Mercedes team leadership.