Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli has been subjected to death threats following online abuse sparked by comments from Red Bull team members suggesting he deliberately let Lando Norris overtake him during the Qatar Grand Prix. The 19-year-old received over 1,100 severe or suspect comments on his social media, including several death threats, prompting Mercedes to report the incidents to the FIA's United Against Online Abuse campaign.
The controversy arose in the final stages of the race when Norris, chasing Antonelli for fourth place, overtook the Italian after he made an error at turn nine and went wide through turn 10. This ensured Norris's advantage over Max Verstappen was 12 points rather than 10 heading into the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
Red Bull engineer Gianpiero Lambiase told Verstappen over the radio that Antonelli had 'just pulled over and let Norris through', a claim later echoed by Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko, who said Antonelli had 'waved' Norris past. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff called the comments 'brainless' and 'total utter nonsense', and confirmed that Lambiase had apologised after being confronted.
Red Bull issued a statement on Monday apologising for provoking the abuse, stating: '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. 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.'
