F1’s rising star Kimi Antonelli, just 19 years old, has faced an avalanche of abuse after the Qatar Grand Prix, switching his social media to a sombre black. Following an error that allowed Lando Norris to overtake him, the young driver received over 1,100 hateful messages, some even threatening his life. Speculation arose when his Instagram profile went dark, soon confirmed to be due to online harassment.
The intense backlash followed his mistake in the race, which handed Norris two vital points that could crown him champion in the final race. Currently, Norris leads Max Verstappen by 12 points, needing only a third-place finish in Abu Dhabi next weekend to secure the title.
Amidst this, senior figures in the racing world accused Antonelli of intentionally allowing Norris to pass. Red Bull personnel suggested he gave the Brit an easy ride – a claim dismissed by Mercedes leader Toto Wolff as pure “nonsense.” Wolff emphasised that Antonelli simply made an error, a sentiment purportedly accepted by Verstappen’s engineer once the air was cleared.
After reviewing race footage, even Red Bull had to backtrack, with the team expressing regret over any comments that contributed to Antonelli’s vicious online vilification. Clips revealed that Antonelli briefly lost control, accidentally creating the chance for Norris to pass. The team underscored their disapproval of online abuse and highlighted the human aspect behind the wheel.
This incident has again ignited debate over the toxic side of sports fandom, as well as responsibility borne by influential public comments. Meanwhile, Kimi Antonelli stands at the crossroads of support and hostility, a stark reminder of pressure in the world of elite racing.