Online Abuse Rises Against F1 Rookie Kimi Antonelli Amid Qatar GP Backlash

A recent on-track incident involving Formula 1 junior driver Kimi Antonelli during the Qatar Grand Prix weekend has prompted an official response from the Red Bull F1 team. The situation escalated online after a short video clip from the event circulated without full context.

Main News

During the Qatar Grand Prix weekend, Kimi Antonelli, a driver for Red Bull’s junior team, was involved in an on-track moment with Red Bull Racing driver Sergio Pérez. The incident occurred as Antonelli was leaving the pit lane.

A brief video clip focusing solely on the cars on track was later shared widely on social media. This clip did not show the full context of the pit exit or the applicable race regulations for that moment.

The Red Bull Formula 1 team issued a statement addressing the online reaction to the video. The team stated that the shared clip was “edited and misleading,” leading to a wave of online abuse directed at the 18-year-old Antonelli.

Red Bull defended Antonelli’s actions, stating he did nothing wrong. The team clarified that Antonelli was following the race director’s instructions and the standard procedure for cars exiting the pits at the Lusail circuit.

Summary

A short, misleading video from the Qatar GP showed Kimi Antonelli and Sergio Pérez in close proximity on track, leading to significant online criticism of the junior driver. The clip circulated without showing the full context of the pit lane exit.

Red Bull F1 intervened publicly to correct the record. The team stated the video was edited and explained that Antonelli was following official race director instructions at the time.

The team’s statement directly attributed the subsequent online abuse Antonelli faced to the misleading nature of the viral clip. Red Bull concluded that the young driver had operated correctly and within the regulations.

FAQs

**What happened between Kimi Antonelli and Sergio Pérez in Qatar?**
During the Qatar GP weekend, Antonelli was exiting the pit lane while Pérez was on a flying lap. A close moment was captured on video, but the full context of the pit exit was not shown in the initial clip.

Why did Red Bull make a statement?
Red Bull stated the widely shared video was “edited and misleading” and that it fueled a wave of online abuse directed at Antonelli. The team issued the statement to clarify the facts and defend their junior driver’s actions.

Was Antonelli at fault?
According to the Red Bull F1 team, Antonelli was not at fault. They stated he was following the race director’s instructions and standard pit exit procedures for the Lusail International Circuit.

Disclaimer: This report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. All information is based on verified reporting available at the time of publication.