Mercedes Formula 1 racer Kimi Antonelli has opted to shut down his social media profiles due to receiving death threats and over 1,100 offensive messages in the aftermath of the Qatar Grand Prix. The 19-year-old faced a barrage of abusive comments from trolls following a late mistake during the race, allowing Lando Norris to overtake him.
Norris gained two crucial points as a result, potentially impacting the championship battle as he currently holds a 12-point lead over Max Verstappen, the winner of the Qatar race. With only a need to secure third place in the upcoming Abu Dhabi finale to clinch the world championship, Norris stands on the brink of a historic victory regardless of Verstappen’s performance.
Following the race, Antonelli changed his Instagram profile picture to an all-black image, hinting at the online abuse he had endured. Reports indicate that more than 1,100 negative comments were directed at Antonelli’s personal accounts, with an additional 330 on the Mercedes team’s social media pages, some of which included threats against the young driver.
Mercedes is gathering all the offensive remarks to be submitted to the FIA as part of the United Against Online Abuse initiative. This move comes after Red Bull officials suggested that Antonelli intentionally made way for Norris, leading to further controversy in the aftermath of the race.
Verstappen’s race engineer expressed confusion over Antonelli’s actions, fueling speculation of foul play, which Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff vehemently denied. Wolff condemned the accusations as baseless, emphasizing the team’s focus on the championship standings and defending Antonelli’s performance during the race.
Red Bull later issued a statement retracting their earlier remarks and expressing regret for contributing to the online abuse Antonelli faced. The statement clarified that Antonelli’s loss of control on track led to Norris overtaking him, dispelling the notion of deliberate interference.
In other news, Sky has enhanced its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to include additional streaming services along with comprehensive Formula 1 coverage, underlining its commitment to offering a broad range of entertainment options for viewers.