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Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli embraced in the media pen after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with the Mercedes driver apologising for the outcome of the 2025 F1 drivers’ championship.
Following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Max Verstappen graciously accepted Kimi Antonelli’s apology in the media pen, despite losing the F1 drivers’ championship to Lando Norris by a mere two points. Verstappen’s pole position win was not enough to secure the title, which he had held since 2021, as Norris finished third in the race. Antonelli apologized for a mistake at the Qatar Grand Prix that ultimately cost Verstappen the championship. The controversy around the incident led to Verstappen’s race engineer and Red Bull advisor questioning Norris’ overtaking of a Mercedes driver. Despite receiving backlash and death threats on social media, Antonelli sought to make amends with Verstappen after 58 laps in Abu Dhabi, with Verstappen responding with understanding and no hard feelings. The exchange between Verstappen and Antonelli can be viewed in the clip provided below.
