Wolff Meets Verstappen’s Engineer to Clear the Air Over Antonelli Incident

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff held a discussion with Max Verstappen’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase following the Qatar Grand Prix to address misunderstandings surrounding Kimi Antonelli’s on-track actions.



The meeting aimed to clarify that Antonelli had not intentionally allowed Lando Norris to pass during the closing stages of the race.



Lambiase had initially noted on team radio that it appeared Antonelli “just pulled over and let Norris through,” a comment that suggested the young Mercedes driver had damaged Verstappen’s championship hopes.



Subsequent analysis of onboard footage revealed that Antonelli had suffered a significant snap of oversteer, nearly losing control of his car, and that Norris’s overtake was the result of driving circumstances rather than strategy.



Wolff Confirms Discussion With Lambiase



A video posted online after the race showed Wolff and Lambiase speaking alongside another Mercedes staff member.



Wolff described the exchange as productive, clearing any confusion from the heat of the moment.



“I spoke to GP, saw him, and obviously he’s emotional in that moment,” Wolff explained.



“Because they needed a P3, I guess, to win the championship. Now, they need more.”



Wolff provided details about the incident from the perspective of Antonelli in the car.



“I said to him, Kimi just went off. He had a bit of a moment in the previous corner, and then entry speed into that left-hander, put the gas down and at that moment, which can happen, that lost the position,” he said.



He added that Lambiase accepted the explanation, acknowledging that he had not seen the full situation.



“So with GP, everything is clear. Cleared the air. He said he didn’t see the situation. Why would we do this?”



Marko Walks Back Comments



Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko took longer to retract his earlier statements about Antonelli intentionally yielding to Norris.



By Monday following the race, Marko issued a public apology and clarified his position:



“I took another close look at the footage. The first time, Antonelli could have held his ground a little better. The second time, it was a driving error and not intentional. I’m sorry that Antonelli got so much flak online. To clarify once again: he didn’t let Norris pass on purpose.”



Marko’s comments followed widespread criticism from fans and media alike, highlighting the dangers of premature speculation in high-stakes races.



The incident also prompted Mercedes to report abusive online messages aimed at Antonelli to the FIA, reinforcing the governing body’s stance on safe and respectful participation in motorsport.



Impact on the Championship



Antonelli’s mistake did not affect his overall rookie campaign, which has seen him consistently challenge more experienced drivers and fight for positions near the front of the grid.



Norris’s final-lap overtake, combined with Verstappen’s victory in Qatar, meant that the championship fight would continue to the final race in Abu Dhabi.



Had Antonelli held position for just a few more corners, Verstappen could have clinched the title earlier.



The clarification from Wolff and the retraction from Red Bull have now quelled much of the online speculation, allowing Antonelli to focus on the end-of-season race without the distraction of unfounded accusations.



Mercedes emphasised that the rookie’s error was purely a driving incident, part of the learning curve for a young driver under pressure.



Wider Lessons for F1 Teams



The episode serves as a reminder to teams, engineers, and advisors to be cautious before making public judgments about driver actions during races.



High emotions, split-second decisions, and incomplete information can often lead to misinterpretations with significant consequences for reputations and fan reactions.



With the final race approaching, Wolff and Mercedes are focused on supporting Antonelli and finishing the season strongly.



Meanwhile, Red Bull’s public clarification serves as a warning to the paddock about the impact of commentary and the responsibility teams carry in shaping narratives.
The post Wolff Meets Verstappen’s Engineer to Clear the Air Over Antonelli Incident appeared first on Formula1News.co.uk .