P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The FIA has released a statement after Kimi Antonelli was subjected to online hate and death threats following the Qatar Grand Prix.
The FIA has condemned the online abuse directed at Kimi Antonelli following his mistake at the Qatar Grand Prix. This incident occurred when the Mercedes driver went off track on the penultimate lap, leading to Lando Norris moving up to fourth place and gaining crucial points in the F1 championship battle. As a result, Norris now holds a 12-point lead over Max Verstappen and a 16-point advantage over Oscar Piastri going into the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Antonelli, who received over 1,100 abusive messages, has since deactivated his social media accounts.
Both the FIA and Red Bull have released statements addressing the situation, with Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko revising his initial comments. There were speculations, fueled by remarks made by Verstappen’s engineer, that Antonelli’s mistake was intentional. Toto Wolff criticized Marko’s stance, calling it “brainless,” and Mercedes is planning to present evidence of the abuse to the FIA. The FIA has highlighted the importance of creating a safe and respectful environment in the motorsport community and has emphasized the need for compassion towards all individuals involved in the sport.
