Red Bull has stated it is “clearly incorrect” to claim Andrea Kimi Antonelli tried to help Lando Norris during the Qatar Grand Prix following comments made by two of its team members.
The team also expressed its “regret” over abuse Antonelli has faced following yesterday’s race.
Max Verstappen’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase told the driver during the race Antonelli had “pulled over and let Norris through” into fourth place. Footage of the incident showed Antonelli had made a mistake and run wide in turn 10, which he confirmed after the race.
Lambiase’s message was broadcast on the world television feed by Formula One Management. Neither of Antonelli’s two messages discussing his error were played.
In a portion not broadcast on the world feed, Lambiase added: “Anyway, regardless of that, we will fight to the end, mate,” emphasising the word ‘we’.
Red Bull’s motorsport consultant Helmut Marko reportedly also accused Antonelli of helping Norris after the race. The position gain meant Norris picked up two more championship points and will go into the final race 12 ahead of Verstappen at the top of the standings.
In a statement issued on Monday, Red Bull admitted it was wrong to claim Antonelli had tried to help Norris.
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“Comments made before the end of and immediately after the Qatar GP suggesting that Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli had deliberately allowed Lando Norris to overtake him are clearly incorrect,” it said.
“Replay footage shows Antonelli momentarily losing control of his car, thus allowing Norris to pass him.”
Red Bull acknowledged Antonelli has received abusive messages on social media as a result of the incident. “We sincerely regret that this has led to Kimi receiving online abuse,” it added.
The team has previously accused its rivals of provoking abuse of them. In 2022 its team principal Christian Horner said its team members had been accused of cheating after rivals urged the FIA to punish anyone caught exceeding F1’s budget cap, when it emerged Red Bull had done so the year before.
The FIA said in a statement its United Against Online Abuse campaign “condemns abuse and harassment in any form.”
“It remains absolutely critical that everyone operating within our sport can do so in a safe and respectful environment,” it said. “We stand in support of Kimi Antonelli and urge the wider community, online and offline, to treat drivers, teams, officials and the wider sporting ecosystem with the respect and compassion that they deserve.
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