Max Verstappen responded graciously after Kimi Antonelli apologised to him following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where Verstappen narrowly lost the 2025 Formula 1 title to Lando Norris by just two points.
Verstappen had started from pole and won the race at Yas Marina, but Norris’s third-place finish was enough to secure the championship. Antonelli apologised because of an error he made at the previous race in Qatar, where a late mistake while defending allowed Norris to overtake him. Those extra two points ultimately made the difference although McLaren would have instructed Oscar Piastri to let Norris through in Abu Dhabi if needed, meaning Antonelli’s error wasn’t the sole deciding factor.
The Qatar incident sparked controversy, with Verstappen’s engineer questioning how Norris got past the Mercedes, and Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko adding criticism. Antonelli later faced heavy online abuse, including death threats, prompting condemnation from Red Bull and a statement from the FIA after more than 1,100 incidents of hate were reported.
Despite the tension, Antonelli approached Verstappen after the final race to apologise. Verstappen reassured him, saying: “Mate, don’t be. It’s all good. No hard feelings.” The two shared an embrace in a moment widely praised for sportsmanship.
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