Red Bull Issues Mea Culpa: Calls Out Abuse Toward Antonelli Following Incorrect Comments
In the high-octane world of Formula 1, where every tenth of a second is fought for with grit and the quest for the finish line, controversy is never far behind. However, no one could have anticipated the firestorm that erupted after the Qatar Grand Prix at Lusail International Circuit. The blunder wasn’t something as simple as a daring overtake or pit-stop blunder, but harsh words against one of the sport’s rising stars, Kimi Antonelli.
But, how? It all started with a misguided radio call that forced Red Bull to do something it rarely does: apologize. The team has since issued a formal statement expressing sincere regret for the torrent of abuse hurled at the Mercedes Rookie. It all stemmed from a single radio message that, as Red Bull now admits, was “clearly incorrect.”
The On-Track Battle That Ignited a Firestorm
Let’s set the scene. The Lusail International Circuit was a pressure cooker. Max Verstappen was cruising to another win, but the real drama was unfolding behind him. Kimi Antonelli, the young gun in the Mercedes, found himself in a dogfight with Lando Norris, who is desperately chasing his first world title. Thanks to a clever pit strategy under an early Safety Car, Antonelli had track position on the McLaren.
With fresher tires, Norris was hunting him down. For lap after agonizing lap, Antonelli drove like a seasoned veteran, putting his Mercedes exactly where it needed to be, defending with a mastery that defied his rookie status. He was holding off one of the best drivers on the grid while trying to hunt down Carlos Sainz for a podium spot. It was textbook, hard-nosed racing—the kind of stuff fans live for.
Then, with just two laps to go, disaster. Antonelli, pushing the absolute limit, ran wide into a corner. It was a small mistake, the kind that happens when you’re on a knife’s edge, but it was all the opening Norris needed. The McLaren shot past, snatching fourth place and two crucial points for his championship fight.
Red Bull’s Radio Call and the Ugly Aftermath
In the heat of the moment, Verstappen’s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, got on the radio. “Not sure what happened to Antonelli Max, looks like he just pulled over and let Norris through,” he said. That single sentence, broadcast to the world, was the spark that lit the fuse.
It didn’t matter that Lambiase quickly realized his error and apologized to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. The damage was done. The social media mob, armed with a snippet of misinformation, descended on Antonelli. The young Italian was accused of everything from being a “team player” for a rival to deliberately throwing the race. It was a brutal, unwarranted pile-on against a driver who had just delivered one of the most impressive defensive drives of the season.
The backlash was so severe that Red Bull had no choice but to step in. On Monday, they released their statement, clarifying that “Replay footage shows Antonelli momentarily losing control of his car, thus allowing Norris to pass him. We sincerely regret that this has led to Antonelli receiving online abuse.” It was a necessary move, but for Antonelli, the sting of the accusations will surely linger.
Wolff’s Fierce Defense and Red Bull’s Consolation Prize
Toto Wolff, never one to mince words, was livid. He blasted the suggestion that his driver would simply move aside as “nonsense.”It annoys me,” Wolff fumed post-race. “I’m annoyed with the race… I’m annoyed with the mistake at the end… and then hearing such nonsense blows my mind.” He made it clear that Mercedes was fighting for every single point, and Antonelli was fighting for a potential podium. There was no conspiracy, just a young driver pushing too hard.
While Red Bull may have taken a PR hit, they’re still in a tight battle with Mercedes for second place in the Constructors’ Championship. For a team like Red Bull, which has dominated for years, fighting for second is a far cry from their usual standards. As Wolff himself admitted, while P2 looks good on the stat sheet, “No one in the team thinks that that’s good enough.”
Final Thoughts
This whole sorry episode serves as a stark reminder. In the digital age, a single, misinformed comment can unleash a tidal wave of hate. Kimi Antonelli deserved praise for his grit in Qatar, not scorn. Hopefully, Red Bull’s apology marks an end to it, but it’s a black eye for a sport that should be celebrating its rising stars, not tearing them down.
