Antonelli discloses Verstappen's profanity-laden backing.

      Kimi Antonelli noted that both Max Verstappen and Lando Norris reached out to him privately after the 19-year-old Mercedes rookie faced a barrage of online harassment due to unfounded accusations that he intentionally allowed Norris to overtake him in Qatar.

      The controversy began when Dr. Helmut Marko and Verstappen's race engineer Giampiero 'GP' Lambiase implied that Antonelli had assisted Norris in the championship battle—claims that Red Bull later withdrew following a review of the footage.

      Antonelli shared with reporters in Abu Dhabi that Verstappen was quick to contact him. "He was supportive and very kind," the young Italian recounted. "However, I can’t disclose the exact words he used due to the presence of a lot of strong language," Antonelli chuckled. "He mainly advised me to disregard those individuals, as they’re thoughtless."

      Verstappen later clarified publicly that Marko had simply misunderstood the situation. "What occurred is quite clear, but I don't think Helmut had viewed the footage at that point. If you've misjudged something, it’s courteous to acknowledge it, and it’s essential to set it right," the Red Bull driver remarked, stressing that online abuse was unrelated to Marko’s comments. "Regardless of his remarks, it does not justify insults directed at someone. This is a social media issue, where people can create accounts without revealing their real identities. That is the main problem."

      Antonelli confirmed that Lambiase personally apologized to him. "The statement was appropriate, GP also spoke with me this week, and everything has been clarified with Max."

      Norris also sent him a message. "Max and Lando both reached out, which I appreciated," Antonelli mentioned.

      While in Mercedes’ hospitality area, Antonelli confessed that the first 24 hours following Qatar were challenging. "I’m okay now. I was quite upset the first night, particularly because I didn't understand the reasons. Being accused of something untrue is terrible. I was striving for the podium, and I would never act in such a way. If I had intended to allow Lando to pass, I would have done it much earlier."

      He emphasized that the FIA needs to take action against online toxicity. "Something has to change," Antonelli stated. "Respect should never be absent. We come to the track to perform our best, not to assist or hinder our competitors."

      Antonelli also described his decision to blackout his social media accounts. "It was a means of sending a message—I haven’t even checked social media at all since that night."

      Mercedes' technical head Simone Resta revealed that the team is working with its PR department to establish tools "to create a safe space where fans can engage with the team."

      Regarding the title race, Antonelli made a prediction. "Norris is the favorite, but Max has the potential to win. If Red Bull can apply pressure on Norris and Piastri, perhaps they can secure it."

      And who deserves it the most? "All three, but Max has made a remarkable impact in the latter half of the season."