P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Kimi Antonelli has been subject to death threats and abuse on social media following the incident.
Kimi Antonelli believes he could have maintained his position and secured fourth place in the Qatar GP if not for a mistake on the penultimate lap.
During Lap 56 of 57, Antonelli’s error in Turns 9 and 10 allowed Lando Norris to overtake him, resulting in Norris gaining two extra points for finishing fourth instead of fifth.
This incident extended Norris’s lead over Max Verstappen to 12 points for the Abu Dhabi showdown, leading to accusations from Red Bull that Antonelli intentionally let Norris pass.
Mercedes and Antonelli faced increased online abuse, prompting Mercedes to involve the FIA and Red Bull to express regret over the situation.
Despite the setback, Antonelli remains confident that he could have held off Norris and expresses a desire to continue improving and showcasing competitiveness in upcoming races.
Looking ahead, Antonelli aims to build on the progress made in the second half of the season and finish the year strongly to carry momentum into the following year.
