Mercedes Formula 1 driver Kimi Antonelli has been subjected to a torrent of online abuse, including sickening death threats, following a critical error at the Qatar Grand Prix.
The Costly Mistake and Immediate Backlash
The incident occurred during the closing stages of the race when the young Italian driver lost control and went off the track. This mistake allowed McLaren's Lando Norris to seize the opportunity and overtake him.
The consequence was significant: Norris gained two extra championship points from the move. This result dramatically tightened the title fight, meaning Norris now only requires a third-place finish at the season finale in Abu Dhabi to clinch the world championship from Max Verstappen.
In the aftermath, Antonelli's personal social media profiles were flooded with vitriol. Over 1,100 cruel messages were identified, with a disturbing number containing explicit threats of violence and death aimed at the teenager.
Team Reactions and a Controversial Claim
In clear distress, Antonelli responded by effectively shutting down his social media presence, changing his profile picture to a plain black image in a symbolic 'black out'.
The situation was further inflamed by comments from Red Bull's outspoken advisor, Helmut Marko. After the race, Marko suggested it was "so obvious" that Antonelli had deliberately allowed Norris to pass without a fight, implying team orders.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff issued a fierce defence of his driver, branding the conspiracy theories "total, utter nonsense". Wolff stated categorically that Antonelli had simply made a driving error and lost control of his car, calling the allegations both brainless and annoying.
Retraction and Action Against Abuse
Facing intense criticism, the Red Bull team later issued a formal statement to apologise for the remarks made by their officials. They acknowledged that replay footage clearly showed Antonelli genuinely losing control and expressed regret for the initial insinuations.
Meanwhile, Mercedes is taking concrete steps to address the online harassment. The team is compiling evidence of the abusive comments and messages, which they plan to present to the FIA, the sport's governing body. The FIA runs a global initiative called "United Against Online Abuse", and this evidence will be part of that campaign to hold perpetrators accountable.
The ugly episode highlights the dark side of social media interaction in high-stakes sport, where a single error can trigger an unacceptable wave of hatred towards competitors.
