Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff criticised Red Bull race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase after Lambiase suggested Kimi Antonelli had intentionally let Lando Norris through in the closing stages of the Qatar Grand Prix. Wolff called the accusation “brainless” and said the comment was nonsense.
The incident arose when Norris, chasing a move for fourth, made progress as Antonelli ran wide on the penultimate lap at Turn 10, allowing the McLaren to slip past and pick up two extra points. The result moved Norris 12 points clear of Max Verstappen with the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to come; Oscar Piastri sits a further four points behind in third.
Frustrated by the lost opportunity, Lambiase radioed Verstappen that it looked as though Antonelli had “just pulled over and let Norris through.” Wolff said the remark was unacceptable. “This is total utter nonsense. That blows my mind even to hear that,” he told reporters after the race, adding that he was already irritated by mistakes in the race and that such speculation compounded his frustration. Wolff emphasised that Mercedes and Antonelli were competing for strong race finishes and a better Constructors’ position, making the suggestion unfair.
Wolff said he spoke to Lambiase after the race. According to Wolff, Lambiase — a long-time Red Bull figure — was emotional and apologetic and told him he had not actually seen the incident properly. Wolff described clearing the air and said Lambiase apologised for any social media fallout caused by his comment.
Antonelli himself described the late moments as a “massive moment” that cost him a potential podium. While chasing Carlos Sainz for third, Antonelli said tyre overheating and dirty air made the car difficult to follow. “With the hard tyre I was pushing a lot to close on Carlos. I was in DRS or very close, but into Turn 9 I went in a bit quicker and had a massive moment… I lost the rear and went off track,” he explained, calling it unfortunate to lose the place and the extra points.
With the championship headed to Abu Dhabi, tensions and emotions are heightened across the leading teams. The 2025 season concludes with the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which will be shown live on Sky Sports F1.