P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Oliver Bearman has called people abusing Kimi Antonelli online “scum of the earth” after he received a swathe of criticism post F1 Qatar GP.
Oliver Bearman expressed his disapproval towards those who were criticizing Andrea Kimi Antonelli, referring to them as “scum of the earth”, following the Mercedes driver facing backlash after the Qatar Grand Prix. The 19-year-old rookie defended his position against championship leader Lando Norris during the race at Lusail International Circuit, but eventually lost it to Norris due to a mistake in the penultimate lap. Fans believed Antonelli had deliberately allowed Norris to pass him, drawing online criticism. Even Max Verstappen‘s race engineer and team advisor hinted at a potential strategy involving the McLaren team. Bearman defended Antonelli, highlighting the disproportionate media scrutiny rookies like him face compared to established drivers. He emphasized that social media abuse towards any driver, rookie or not, should not be tolerated, emphasizing the dangerous nature of their profession and the need for respect.
