Pink Bull have apologized to Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli after making a slanderous remark about him within the ultimate moments of the Qatar Grand Prix on Sunday, 30 November. Max Verstappen’s race engineer had made a cheeky comment about Antonelli, who was overtaken by Lando Norris on the penultimate lap of the race. Whereas talking to Verstappen, the engineer Gianpiero Lambiase commented that Antonelli appeared to let Lando overtake him, which earned the British driver two additional factors within the race.
Pink Bull’s 82-year-old motorsport advisor Helmut Marko later doubled down on the commentary, telling reporters that it was apparent Antonelli had “roughly waved Lando by” for fourth place on the penultimate lap.
Commentators for the broadcaster heard the comment and dismissed it as an harmless mistake from the engineer, who may not have observed that Antonelli had gone large on one of many turns through the race.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff reacted sharply, accusing his fellow Austrian Marko of talking “complete, utter nonsense” and shutting down any rumors instantly and unequivocally. On Monday, Pink Bull moved to calm the scenario after it emerged that Antonelli, who is just 19, had confronted social media abuse following the feedback.
“Feedback made earlier than the top of and instantly after the Qatar GP suggesting that Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli had intentionally allowed Lando Norris to overhaul him are clearly incorrect,” Pink Bull stated in an official assertion.
“Replay footage exhibits Antonelli momentarily shedding management of his automobile, which allowed Norris to cross him. We sincerely remorse that this has led to Kimi receiving on-line abuse,” the assertion concluded.
The overtake meant that Norris, whose automobile has a Mercedes engine, heads into the ultimate spherical in Abu Dhabi with a 12-point lead over Verstappen as an alternative of 10.
Antonelli later defined the incident as an error attributable to soiled air whereas following Carlos Sainz’s Williams, which additionally runs a Mercedes energy unit. He stated he nearly crashed because of the second.
“I used to be pushing onerous to remain forward of Norris within the closing phases and sadly simply pushed just a little bit too onerous. I obtained off form by means of flip 9 after which had a large snap of oversteer,” stated the Italian rookie.
F1 Season Set For Thrilling End
The 2025 Components One Championship is heading in direction of a dramatic climaxwith three drivers nonetheless in rivalry for the title because the season reaches its ultimate race in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, December 7. Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri stay locked in a three-way battle, every with a sensible probability of being topped world champion on the Yas Marina Circuit.
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