Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli reveals death threats after Qatar GP, thanking Max Verstappen for his support and condemning online abuse.
ABU DHABI: Mercedes Formula 1 driver Kimi Antonelli has thanked Red Bull’s Max Verstappen for his support after receiving online death threats.
The 19-year-old rookie revealed the abuse followed the Qatar Grand Prix, where a mistake cost him a position to McLaren’s Lando Norris.
Antonelli said Verstappen and his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase both spoke to him personally after the incident.
“It wasn’t easy to get those comments after the race, for something that I would never do, waving past a competitor,” said Antonelli.
The Italian explained he was pushing for a podium finish when a tyre-related error allowed Norris to pass.
Mercedes reported a 1100% increase in hateful comments on their social media channels after the race.
Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko had suggested suspicions about Antonelli’s move, which Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff called “brainless”.
Antonelli said the support from rivals helped him move on.
“It was nice to see the Red Bull statement and then Lambiase came to talk to me as well and I also clarified it with Max,” he stated.
Verstappen offered blunt advice, with Antonelli recalling, “it was just ‘don’t worry about these kinds of people, because they’re brainless, so just focus on the job’.”
The FIA also issued a statement supporting Antonelli and condemning the online abuse.
Verstappen defended Red Bull’s initial reaction while criticising social media platforms.
“What people say on social media is a problem with social media and that has nothing to do with what Helmut actually says,” said the reigning champion.
He highlighted the lack of regulation allowing anonymous accounts to spread abuse.
Verstappen leads Norris by 12 points heading into this weekend’s title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. – AFP
