The decision for the 2025 F1 season was postponed to the Abu Dhabi GP after Max Verstappen’s victory in Qatar, this Sunday. The dispute is still fierce between Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and the Red Bull driver. Off the track, controversies are also in focus and Andrea Kimi Antonelli was the target of abusive comments online after the race. THE Sporting News explains what happened.
Why did Kimi Antonelli receive online threats?
Lando Norris’ overtaking of Kimi Antonelli on the penultimate lap of the Qatar GP sparked discussion. With this pass, Lando finished the race in fourth place and scored 12 points that could be important in defining the championship.
Verstappen won the race and played the championship game at the Abu Dhabi circuit. The Dutchman’s track engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, said he felt Antonelli let Norris pass on purpose. Soon after, RBR consultant Helmut Marko followed the same line and harshly criticized the Italian driver.
– There were two times when he more or less gave way to Lando (Norris). It was so obvious. Now Antonelli helps our main competitor; in Austria, he was hitting the back (of Verstappen) – said Marko.
According to the English newspaper “The Guardian” and the website “The Race”, Kimi had received more than 1100 comments with general insults, including homophobic insults and “several death threats”.
In reaction, the freshman removed his profile photo, and RBR issued a statement regretting the episode and denying that the young man may have intentionally made a mistake.
– Comments made before the end and immediately after the Qatar GP suggesting that Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli had deliberately allowed Lando Norris to overtake him are clearly incorrect. The images show Antonelli momentarily losing control of the car, thus allowing Norris to overtake him. We are sincerely sorry that this has led to Kimi receiving online attacks – wrote the Austrian team.
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) December 1, 2025
MORE: What Norris, Verstappen and Piastri need for the title at the Abu Dhabi GP
What did Kimi Antonelli say after the Qatar GP?
Kimi has not commented since. In the hours following the race, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff condemned the accusations made against his driver. He was also seen in the Lusail Circuit paddock talking to Lambiase. In addition to RBR’s position, Helmut Marko also apologized.
– I took a closer look at the images. The first time, Antonelli could have stayed on the track a little better. The second time, it was a piloting error and not intentional. I’m sorry that Antonelli received so much criticism online. To clarify once again: he didn’t let Norris pass on purpose.
