Formula 1 drivers condemn online abuse aimed at Kimi Antonelli
Following the Qatar Grand Prix, British Formula 1 drivers have condemned the **online abuse** targeting Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, reports BritPanorama.
Oliver Bearman, addressing the media before this weekend’s season finale in Abu Dhabi, described the abusers as “scum of the earth” and “sad people,” ardently defending his former Prema Racing teammate. He remarked that the wave of criticism directed at Antonelli was “an absolute joke” that “shouldn’t be tolerated.”
The abuse surged following a controversial incident at the Lusail International Circuit, where Antonelli struggled on the penultimate lap while defending fifth place against championship contender Lando Norris. Mercedes reported over 1,100 “severe or suspect comments” across Antonelli’s social media, including death threats from fans who believed the Italian had intentionally allowed Norris to pass.
Red Bull’s Gianpiero Lambiase had suggested over team radio that Antonelli “just pulled over and let Lando through,” while advisor Helmut Marko implied the move was deliberate. In a statement, the Milton Keynes team acknowledged that their comments were “clearly incorrect” and expressed regret for the subsequent abuse Antonelli received.
Bearman noted that his role at Haas had shielded him from similar scrutiny, allowing him to navigate his early career with less pressure. He commented, “You’re a bit less in the limelight. You have the possibility to make mistakes and be less criticised for those.”
The wider F1 community rallied behind Antonelli, with George Russell, head of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, calling the behavior “unacceptable” and urging those responsible to rethink their actions. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc lamented that online abusers “face no consequence for their words and for their disrespect towards drivers.” Isack Hadjar of Racing Bulls bluntly referred to the perpetrators as “idiots.”
Antonelli himself revealed that world champion Max Verstappen had reached out to him, characterising the online abusers as “brainless.” The young driver admitted that the experience had been unsettling, stating, “A lot of insults, even some death threats. At the end of the day, it was very tough.”
In the world of Formula 1, where competitiveness is fierce and the stakes are high, the line between support and hostility can blur. As we saw in this latest episode, the sport’s vibrant culture sometimes fosters dark corners where vitriol thrives, reminding fans and competitors alike of the importance of respect both on and off the track.
