FIA Issues Firm Statement After Red Bull Comments Spark Online Abuse Toward Kimi Antonelli
The FIA has stepped forward with a strong public statement after a wave of online abuse targeted at Mercedes’ rising star Kimi Antonelli in the aftermath of the Qatar Grand Prix. The 19-year-old rookie found himself at the centre of a heated online storm following a late-race incident involving championship contender Lando Norris, an event that Red Bull figures initially misrepresented, triggering harsh and unfounded criticism toward the young Italian driver.
The controversy unfolded during the final laps at Lusail, where Antonelli was locked in an intense defensive fight with Norris for fourth place. The position was far more than a number on the timing board—Norris needed every possible championship point to stay within reach of Max Verstappen, who ultimately won the race. For Norris, securing fourth was crucial to maintain his title advantage before the decisive season finale in Abu Dhabi.
As the pressure mounted, Antonelli momentarily lost control of his Mercedes after a burst of snap oversteer, which forced him wide and allowed Norris to slip past. The onboard footage clearly captured the moment: the rear of Antonelli’s W16 stepped out aggressively, leaving him scrambling just to keep the car on track. Far from a deliberate act, it was simply an unfortunate mistake from a young driver pushing hard under immense pressure.
However, moments before this footage became widely circulated, prominent Red Bull personnel—namely race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase and advisor Helmut Marko—suggested over team radio and in post-race comments that Antonelli may have intentionally opened the door for Norris. The implication that the Mercedes rookie manipulated the race order struck a nerve with rapid-fire social media commentators, many of whom rushed to attack the teenager.
Those suggestions have since been acknowledged as false by Red Bull, with both Lambiase and Marko issuing apologies once the real footage emerged. Unfortunately, the initial narrative had already done significant damage. Antonelli became the subject of abusive messages, leading him to blackout his profile picture on Instagram—a gesture often used by public figures experiencing intense online harassment.
FIA’s Response: A Call for Respect and Responsibility
With the situation escalating, the FIA issued a clear and forceful message through its official channels. The statement aligned with its ongoing United Against Online Abuse initiative aimed at tackling toxic behaviour within motorsport communities.
“The FIA and its United Against Online Abuse campaign condemns abuse and harassment in any form,” the statement read. “It remains absolutely critical that everyone operating within our sport can do so in a safe and respectful environment. We stand in full support of Kimi Antonelli and urge the wider community, online and offline, to treat drivers, teams, officials and the entire sporting ecosystem with the respect and compassion they deserve.”
The FIA’s words underscore a broader issue in modern motorsport: the speed at which accusations, misinformation, and emotional reactions spread online, often long before any evidence comes to light. Young drivers like Antonelli—who are still building their confidence and public identity—can be especially vulnerable to such attacks.
Antonelli’s Remarkable Debut Season Overshadowed
The incident comes at the end of what has otherwise been an incredibly impressive rookie campaign for the Mercedes driver. At only 19, Antonelli has shown maturity far beyond his experience, delivering consistent performances and demonstrating why Mercedes view him as a long-term successor within the team.
Remarkably, he approaches the Abu Dhabi finale just two points behind seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton in the standings. Outperforming or even closely matching a driver of Hamilton’s calibre in his debut year is an achievement very few have ever managed.
Yet despite his strong season, the emotional strain from recent weeks—including on-track pressure and off-track scrutiny—has been evident. The young Italian will no doubt welcome the offseason as a chance to reset mentally and physically before the challenge of the 2026 regulation overhaul arrives.
Red Bull Retracts and Clarifies
To close the matter, Red Bull issued a formal statement acknowledging their earlier mistake:
“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.”
The team’s correction and apology are significant, but also a reminder of the weight words carry in a sport where millions of passionate fans respond instantly to any spark.
