The F1 side say they ‘sincerely regret’ comments made by Gianpiero Lambiase

Red Bull have expressed “sincere regret” over remarks made during and immediately after the Qatar Grand Prix that preceded a wave of online abuse – including death threats – directed at Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, whose social-media channels were subsequently flooded with hostile messages.

The 18-year-old Italian, competing in his first full Formula One season, changed his Instagram profile picture to black on Monday morning after Mercedes confirmed he had received a barrage of threatening messages.

According to the team, the volume represented a “1,100 per cent increase” on the typical level of weekend abuse they monitor, though Antonelli himself did not see the comments because his channels are moderated.

The furore began in the closing laps at Lusail, when Antonelli ran wide at Turn 10 on the penultimate lap and surrendered fourth place to Lando Norris.

The lost position gave the McLaren driver two additional championship points, extending his lead over Max Verstappen to 12 rather than 10 ahead of this weekend’s three-way title decider in Abu Dhabi.

In the immediate aftermath, Verstappen’s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, suggested over team radio that it “looked like” Antonelli had “just pulled over and let Norris through.”

The remark – made without access to replays – was swiftly amplified on social media, with some fans interpreting it as an accusation of impropriety.

Gianpiero Lambiase is Max Verstappen’s race engineer at Red Bull

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Red Bull issued a public statement on Monday seeking to distance the team from that interpretation.

“Comments made before the end of and immediately after the Qatar GP suggesting that Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli had deliberately allowed Lando Norris to overtake him are clearly incorrect,” the team said.

“Replay footage shows Antonelli momentarily losing control of his car, thus allowing Norris to pass him. We sincerely regret that this has led to Kimi receiving online abuse.”

F1 facts fans might not know | GETTY/GBNEWS

The statement stopped short of a direct apology to Antonelli, but Mercedes confirmed that Lambiase privately apologised to team principal Toto Wolff once shown the footage.

Mercedes representative Bradley Lord, who was present for that exchange, told the BC that Lambiase “hadn’t seen the video” before making the comment and apologised “immediately” when it was shown to him.

Wolff himself was incensed at the escalation.

Speaking after the race, he branded the accusation “total, utter nonsense” and questioned the wisdom of making such claims on live radio.

“How brainless can you be to even say something like this?” he said.

“Kimi was fighting for a potential podium, and we are fighting for second in the constructors’. He simply went off the track.”

Max Verstappen boosted his hopes of F1 title glory with his triumph in Qatar

 | REUTERSWolff added that the engineer had been “emotional in the moment” given Red Bull’s narrow points deficit, but that “everything is clear” between the teams after the air was “fully cleared.”

Antonelli gave a straightforward account of the incident that sparked the controversy, stressing it was merely a driving error under pressure.

“I was pushing a lot to get close to Carlos [Sainz],” he said.

“The dirty air was tough and the tyres were overheating. Into Turn Nine I went in a bit quicker and had a massive moment — unexpected — and just lost the rear.

“A shame to lose the place because it would have been two more points.”

F1 authorities have yet to comment formally on the wave of abuse faced by Antonelli, but both teams reiterated calls for restraint and responsibility online as the sport heads into one of the most tightly poised finales in recent years.