During his debut year in Formula 1, Andrea Kimi Antonelli was repeatedly targeted with insults and threats from some “fans” of the sport. Charles Leclerc recently spoke on the issue of online abuse, calling for strict measures and emphasizing that F1 drivers should never become accustomed to such behavior.
The young driver from Bologna even received death threats on social media following the Qatar Grand Prix, a race in which a mistake allowed Lando Norris to finish fourth and secure the two points that ultimately proved decisive for his first World Championship in Abu Dhabi.
Immediately after the race, Max Verstappen’s engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, commented via radio that it seemed Kimi Antonelli had “simply moved” to let Lando Norris pass. Former Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko also hinted at a possible intentional action on the part of the Mercedes driver.
Marko’s words prompted a strong reaction from Toto Wolff, who called him “brainless,” while Mercedes reported an 1,100% increase in hateful and offensive comments on their social media channels in the hours following the race. Later, Lambiase spoke directly with Antonelli, and Red Bull issued an official statement containing Marko’s apology for his remarks.
Returning to the topic, Charles Leclerc stressed that drivers should not be exposed to attacks by people who face no consequences for their actions. As reported by RacingNews365, the Monegasque driver stated: “It is unacceptable, and obviously, these people face no consequences for their words and for their lack of respect toward the drivers. It is not up to us to decide what consequences they should face, but it is truly unfortunate, because we are all here to give our best.”
Charles Leclerc also reflected on how difficult it is to manage such situations, especially early in a career: “We’ve been racing since we were kids, dreaming of reaching this level, and today we do everything possible to push ourselves to the limit. Sometimes mistakes happen. In that specific case, the hate was completely unjustified. The only thing you can do is try to ignore it, but it is very difficult. I remember that in my first years in F1 I often looked at what was being said on social media, and that made everything even more complicated.”
The Ferrari driver concluded by underlining that experience helps partially in coping with such attacks, but it should never become normal: “Over time you get used to it, but we really shouldn’t get accustomed to this type of behavior. I hope that one day this problem will be addressed in the proper way.”
As Formula 1 continues to grow its digital footprint, the balance between fan engagement and driver protection remains a critical challenge for the FIA and FOM heading into the 2026 season.
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