The Red Bull team Expresses Remorse Regarding Remarks Linked to Online Abuse Targeting Mercedes Star Kimi Antonelli

The Red Bull racing outfit has issued a statement stating its deep remorse for post-race remarks that preceded a torrent of online abuse, including vile threats, directed at Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli.

Antonelli was said to have changed his Instagram profile to a blank image on Monday, a response to the abusive comments that flooded his accounts. His team confirmed that a number of these communications constituted threats against the youngster's life.

The situation stems from team radio during the final laps of the recent race. Max Verstappen's race engineer remarked over the air that it "looked like" Antonelli had "just pulled over" to let rival driver Lando Norris through.

This incident proved significant for the championship battle, as the overtake earned him two additional points. This extended the McLaren driver's points advantage over Verstappen to a dozen points heading into the final race in Abu Dhabi.

In its official communication, Red Bull asserted: "Observations made implying that Kimi Antonelli had deliberately allowed Lando Norris to overtake are clearly incorrect. Replay footage demonstrates Antonelli momentarily losing control of his car, thereby allowing Norris to pass him. We deeply regret that this has resulted in Kimi receiving such abuse."

The team's statement stopped short of a direct apology for the original claim. However, sources indicate that Lambiase later apologised to Toto Wolff after being shown footage of the on-track moment.

"This is complete and utter rubbish. That blows my mind even to hear that," said Wolff. "We are battling for second place in the team standings... How brainless can you be to even say something like this?"

Wolff explained that he had spoken with Lambiase, who stated he did not witness the moment when he spoke over the radio. The team reported a "massive surge" in abusive messages targeting Antonelli following the Grand Prix.

For his part, Antonelli explained the moment as a simple mistake. He commented he was driving aggressively to catch Carlos Sainz and had a "massive moment" that led him to go off track and lose the position.

"It proved really hard with the dirty air and the high tyre temperatures," Antonelli remarked. "It's disappointing to lose the place because it would have been additional points."

Main Takeaways from the Incident

• Red Bull has voiced remorse for comments made by a staff member.
• Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli was targeted by severe online abuse in the wake of those comments.
• The controversial remark centered on an on-track pass that affected the title battle.
• Video replays confirm Antonelli made a mistake, contradicting the implication of team orders.
• The individual in question has expressed regret to Mercedes management.