Mercedes Formula 1 driver Kimi Antonelli has taken down his social media accounts due to receiving death threats and more than 1,100 offensive messages after the Qatar Grand Prix. The 19-year-old faced severe backlash from trolls following a late mishap in the race, allowing Lando Norris to overtake him, resulting in Norris gaining crucial points in the championship battle. Currently, Norris holds a 12-point lead over Max Verstappen, the winner of the Qatar race, making it possible for Norris to secure the championship by finishing third in the Abu Dhabi finale, regardless of Verstappen’s performance.
Antonelli’s Instagram profile was updated with a black image shortly after the race, hinting at the online abuse he was facing. Reports indicate that over 1,100 negative comments were directed at Antonelli on his personal accounts, with an additional 330 comments on Mercedes’ team pages, some of which included threats of harm towards the young driver.
In response to the situation, Mercedes plans to report the offensive comments to the FIA, aligning with the organization’s United Against Online Abuse initiative. This action follows remarks from Red Bull executives suggesting that Antonelli deliberately made way for Norris, who races for McLaren, a team powered by Mercedes engines.
Verstappen’s race engineer expressed confusion over Antonelli’s actions during the race, leading to speculation that he allowed Norris to pass easily. However, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff refuted these claims, emphasizing that there was no intention to interfere with the championship battle. Red Bull later issued a statement expressing regret over the initial comments that triggered the online abuse towards Antonelli.
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