Wolff Responds to Red Bull’s Claims of Intentional Overtakes by Antonelli in Qatar GP
Toto Wolff, Team Principal of Mercedes, has strongly rebutted accusations from Red Bull regarding Kimi Antonelli’s actions during the Qatar Grand Prix, where he reportedly allowed McLaren drivers to overtake him.
During the race, Oscar Piastri passed Antonelli at Turn 1 early in his second stint, just before Antonelli made a routine pit stop. Lando Norris subsequently overtook Antonelli after a mistake on the penultimate lap. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko suggested these incidents were deliberate moves on Antonelli’s part, designed to assist McLaren in the fight against Max Verstappen for the title.
Wolff dismissed these statements, stating, “This is total utter nonsense that blows my mind even to hear that. We’re fighting for P2 in the championship, which is important for us; Kimi’s fighting for a potential P3. I mean, how brainless can you be to even say something like this?”
His frustration extended to Verstappen’s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, who commented over team radio, “Not sure what happened to Antonelli, Max, looks like he just pulled over and let Norris through.” Wolff described these remarks as unnecessary, emphasizing that there was a misjudgment regarding Antonelli’s performance.
“Antonelli just had a moment, lost entry speed at the left-hander, and that’s what cost him the position,” Wolff explained. He later spoke with Lambiase, clarifying the situation and confirming that there was no intention to interfere in the drivers’ championship.
Wolff recognized the added pressure on teams competing for crucial points, stating, “I understand emotions run high when titles are at stake. I spoke to GP, and everything is clear now.” He concluded by emphasizing the gravity of the situation and the need for accurate communication in high-stakes racing environments.
