P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Kimi Antonelli was subject to abuse on social media after the Qatar Grand Prix.
The Mercedes F1 team will present social media comments aimed at Kimi Antonelli to the FIA following online abuse he received after a racing error in the Qatar Grand Prix. Lando Norris benefited from Antonelli’s mistake and is now 12 points ahead of Max Verstappen going into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, gaining a two-point lead in the championship battle. Antonelli has faced a mix of support and criticism on social media, with over 1,100 severe or suspect comments flagged for containing death threats or harmful wishes towards him. Mercedes will also address over 330 severe comments flagged on their own accounts, taking the issue seriously and participating in the United Against Online Abuse campaign by presenting the comments to the FIA. Despite claims by Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko that Antonelli let Norris pass intentionally, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff dismissed the accusation, calling Marko’s statement “brainless.”
