Charles Leclerc demands online protection for Formula 1 drivers after his colleague Kimi Antonelli faced a flood of abusive threats on social media, following the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver highlighted the urgent need for stricter safeguards in response to the deluge of hostility, which erupted after a mistake by Antonelli led to a change in race standings.
Threats Fuelled by Race Day Controversy
Kimi Antonelli, representing Mercedes, became the focus of violent online threats after an error during the Qatar Grand Prix allowed Lando Norris to overtake him for fourth place. This move handed Norris critical points in the heated championship contest. The controversy intensified when figures from within the Red Bull organization, including Max Verstappen‘s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, commented on race radio that Antonelli had intentionally handed the position over. Further claims from former Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko echoed this sentiment, causing speculation to multiply and online backlash to intensify.
Red Bull later issued an apology for these assertions, formally denying that Antonelli had yielded the place on purpose. Nevertheless, the combination of public statements and widespread online speculation had already stoked abuse from social media users targeting Antonelli.
Leclerc Stands Against Online Abuse
Addressing reporters after the race, Charles Leclerc stood up for Antonelli and decried the vitriolic comments drivers often endure. He openly appealed for improved protections and stressed the damaging effects of unchecked online harassment.
“It’s unacceptable, and obviously, those people face no consequence for their words and for their disrespect towards drivers,”
he stated, underscoring the lack of responsibility abusers currently face.
Leclerc pointed out that all Formula 1 drivers, like Kimi Antonelli, have dedicated years of their lives to reach the highest levels of motorsport. The emotional toll of public criticism and malicious commentary has become increasingly hard to ignore, especially for newer drivers adjusting to constant scrutiny and criticism.
He elaborated on his own experience dealing with harsh comments in the early years of his own career, noting how difficult it is to avoid reading negative material online. Leclerc passionately asserted that athletes should not be forced to normalize this kind of treatment.
“I think with experience you kind of get used to it, but we shouldn’t really have to get used to this kind of behaviour, and I hope that one day it will be tackled properly.”
—Charles Leclerc, Ferrari driver
Implications for Formula 1 and Driver Welfare
This latest incident highlights the growing challenges top drivers like Charles Leclerc, Kimi Antonelli, and others face as social media becomes increasingly hostile. With championship stakes high and narratives shaped quickly both at the racetrack and online, calls are intensifying for Formula 1 and its teams—including Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull—to enforce stronger online protection measures for their athletes. The hope is that, by addressing these issues collectively, the sport can safeguard its competitors against the distressing impacts of abuse.
