BREAKING: FIA Over Punishment standards reignite debate over Antonelli To Red Bull M… Read more
Red Bull comments on Antonelli incident reignite debate over FIA punishment standards
Calls for the FIA to reassess how it handles off-track conduct have resurfaced ahead of the new Formula 1 season, following renewed discussion around Red Bull’s controversial comments involving Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli during the 2024 campaign.
The issue stems from an incident at last year’s Qatar Grand Prix, where Antonelli endured a dramatic moment on the final lap. The young Italian suffered a sudden snap of oversteer, forcing him to wrestle with his car and compromising his exit speed. That moment allowed McLaren’s Lando Norris to pass and claim fourth position at the finish.
At the time, the result carried added significance due to Norris’ tight championship fight with Max Verstappen, who went on to win the race. In the immediate aftermath, Red Bull figures reacted angrily, suggesting that Antonelli had deliberately allowed Norris through. Race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase implied over team radio that the Mercedes driver had let Norris pass, a claim that quickly drew attention across the paddock.
However, onboard footage soon made it clear that Antonelli had been fighting a major loss of control rather than yielding position intentionally. Despite the visual evidence, former Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko intensified the controversy by publicly repeating the accusation. Marko claimed Antonelli had “more or less waved Lando by” on two occasions and went further by referencing a previous incident in Austria, where Antonelli had been involved in contact with Verstappen.
The remarks triggered a wave of online abuse directed at the 19-year-old, much of it highly personal. In response, Antonelli briefly changed his social media profile picture to black, a quiet but powerful indication of the impact the backlash had on him. Red Bull later issued a formal apology, acknowledging that the comments were inappropriate. Lambiase also reached out personally to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and to Antonelli himself to express regret.
Despite those apologies, some within the Formula 1 community believe the matter should not have ended there. Williams driver Franco Colapinto has now suggested that the FIA should reconsider how it disciplines teams and individuals for off-track comments that can provoke online hostility.
Speaking during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, Colapinto drew a comparison between the sanctions imposed on drivers for swearing and the lack of consequences for comments that fuel abuse. He argued that the imbalance felt unjust, noting that drivers can face heavy fines or penalties for minor lapses in language, while inflammatory statements that spark hatred often pass without punishment.
Colapinto questioned why those who speak without full context, and whose words can lead to sustained online attacks, are able to simply apologise and move on. In his view, the damage caused by such remarks can be far more serious than the use of profanity in a controlled media environment. While he stopped short of demanding immediate rule changes, he suggested the issue was significant enough to warrant further examination.
The comments have once again highlighted the FIA’s strict stance on language. In recent seasons, governing body penalties for swearing have drawn widespread criticism. Max Verstappen was handed a community service-style punishment in 2024 after using profanity in a press conference, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc received a fine for similar conduct toward the end of the season.
The debate extended beyond Formula 1 into rallying, when World Rally Championship driver Adrien Fourmaux was fined €10,000 and given a suspended €20,000 penalty for using inappropriate language during a television interview in early 2025. That incident sparked strong opposition from WRC drivers and co-drivers, who argued that the punishment was excessive.
In response to mounting criticism, the FIA later softened its approach. For 2025, the maximum fine for breaching swearing regulations was reduced from €10,000 to €5,000. The governing body also introduced greater flexibility, allowing leniency for language used “on-track” compared to remarks made in press conferences or other controlled settings.
Whether similar guidelines will ever be applied to comments that indirectly result in online abuse remains unclear. The FIA has not indicated any immediate plans to introduce specific penalties in such cases. However, its United Against Online Abuse initiative continues to campaign against digital harassment, aiming to raise awareness and condemn harmful behaviour directed at drivers and team members.
As the new season approaches, the Antonelli episode stands as a reminder of how powerful words can be in modern Formula 1, and why the sport may soon face difficult questions about accountability beyond the racetrack.
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