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Max Verstappen demands social media reform after horrific abuse aimed at Kimi Antonelli

Harry Bright by Harry Bright
December 4, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Max Verstappen demands social media reform after horrific abuse aimed at Kimi Antonelli

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 22: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team talk on the grid during the F1 Grand Prix of Las Vegas at Las Vegas Strip Circuit on November 22, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Guido De Bortoli/LAT Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202511230577 // Usage for editorial use only //

Max Verstappen Takes a Stand Against Social Media Abuse Following Kimi Antonelli’s Harrowing Experience

In a bold and necessary move, Formula 1 superstar Max Verstappen is calling for immediate action against the rampant online abuse plaguing the sport, specifically targeting the horrifying treatment of young driver Kimi Antonelli after the recent Qatar Grand Prix. Antonelli found himself at the center of a social media storm, facing a barrage of vicious attacks and even death threats after a critical error during the penultimate race of the season allowed rival Lando Norris to snatch fourth place.

The drama unfolded as Antonelli made a mistake in the closing moments of the race, which was amplified by misleading footage broadcasted globally. Verstappen’s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, and Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko hastily commented that Antonelli had let Norris pass, based on a misleading world feed. However, upon reviewing the actual events, Lambiase and Marko both quickly issued apologies, acknowledging their misjudgment. Red Bull also released a statement clarifying that while Antonelli did indeed make an error, the context was crucial.

Verstappen, who has always been vocal about the integrity of the sport, expressed his belief that the real issue lies with the initial footage that misrepresented the events. “I think the problem was that first it came out that it looked like he just pulled over,” Verstappen stated to select media outlets. “It was more the feed, so to speak. Then when you see the replay, you see that twice he really had a huge upset moment.” He emphasized that the context of the broadcast was key in leading to the online backlash against Antonelli.

In a show of solidarity, Verstappen defended Marko, stating that the advisor had not seen adequate footage of Antonelli’s incident before speaking to the media. Once Marko was able to view the complete picture, he retracted his earlier comments. “In the end, it’s about correcting it then,” Verstappen added. “What people say on social media, that’s a problem with social media. That has nothing to do with what Helmut actually says.”

Verstappen condemned the toxic culture of social media, where anonymous accounts can wreak havoc without accountability. “That doesn’t mean you’re then suddenly allowed to totally trash someone, right? Whether you talk negatively or positively about someone,” he remarked. He pointed out that the lack of regulation surrounding social media platforms is a significant issue, allowing individuals to create accounts without using their real names, which facilitates harassment.

Upon realizing the extent of the online abuse directed at Antonelli, Verstappen wasted no time in reaching out to both the young driver and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. “I was also immediately in touch with Kimi and Toto Wolff,” Verstappen revealed. “I was in the car, so I had no idea what was going on until I saw the picture. It was pretty obvious what was happening there.”

As Verstappen champions the need for accountability and change within social media, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the harsh realities faced by athletes in the digital age. In a world where every moment can be scrutinized and weaponized, it is essential for all stakeholders in the sport to come together and address the alarming issue of online harassment. The call for action is clear: we must demand better for our athletes and hold platforms accountable for the hate that festers unchecked.

Tags: 1958-formula-1-season2025-football-seasonAndrea Kimi Antonellijamarr-chases-mercedes-maybachLando Norrismax-verstappen-en
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