Toto Wolff has described Max Verstappen’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase as “brainless” after he instructed that Kimi Antonelli deliberately allowed Lando Norris to cross him within the closing phases of the Qatar Grand Prix.
Championship chief Norris appeared to have come up brief in his makes an attempt to cross Antonelli earlier than the Mercedes driver ran vast at Flip 10 on the penultimate lap, enabling the McLaren to grab fourth place and two essential additional factors.
The cross means Norris takes a 12 – relatively than 10 – level lead over Verstappen into the ultimate race of the season in Abu Dhabi subsequent weekend, with the Brit’s team-mate Oscar Piastri additionally nonetheless in rivalry 4 factors additional again in third.
Clearly pissed off that race winner Verstappen’s factors acquire on Norris had been decreased, Lambiase instructed the Dutchman over Pink Bull’s radio that it regarded like Antonelli had “just pulled over and let Norris through.”
Whereas Wolff would go on to disclose that Lambiase had apologised for the radio remarks, the Silver Arrows boss was nonetheless extremely vital of Verstappen’s trusted colleague.
“This is total utter nonsense. That blows my mind even to hear that,” Wolff stated after the race.
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Highlights from the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix
“We’re preventing for P2 within the (Constructors’) Championship, which is vital for us. Kimi is preventing for a possible P3 (race end).
“How brainless can you be to even say something like this? It annoys me because I’m annoyed with the race itself, how it went.
“I am irritated with the error on the finish. I am irritated with different errors, after which listening to such nonsense blows my thoughts.”
Wolff reveals Lambiase apology
Wolff revealed that he had confronted Lambiase over his comments after the race, and that the long-time Red Bull figure had offered an apology.
“I spoke to GP (Lambiase). I noticed him, and clearly he was emotional in that second, as a result of they wanted a P3, I assume, to assist win the championship, now they want extra.
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Pink Bull’s Max Verstappen believes McLaren’s resolution to not pit beneath the security automobile performed a pivotal position in him successful the Qatar GP
“I said to him, ‘he just went off’. He had a bit of a moment in the previous corner, and then had less entry speed into that left-hander, put the gas down, and at that moment, that can happen, then lost the position. So with GP, everything is clear. We cleared the air.
“He stated ‘he did not see the scenario’.
“I said to GP that there’s quite a social media storm. He said, ‘sorry if I caused that, I didn’t see the incident’.”
Antonelli explains ‘sudden’ mistake
Antonelli stated he was pissed off after the “massive moment” had allowed Norris to cross him within the closing phases.
The Italian teenager had been chasing down Carlos Sainz for the ultimate podium spot when he made a mistake in Flip 9, which then resulted in him working vast on the subsequent nook.
Antonelli instructed Sky Sports activities F1: “Pretty frustrating to end up fifth considering the podium was so close.
Antonelli was handed by Norris on the penultimate lap
“We lost a lot of time behind Carlos. It was really hard with the dirty air and just the tyres were overheating a lot.
“With the arduous (tyre), I used to be pushing quite a bit to get near Carlos. Finally I used to be in DRS, or very shut, however into Flip 9 I went in a bit faster and had an enormous second.
“A bit unexpected but just lost the rear and went off track. Just need to look why the mistake arrived and what I did different.
“I went in faster however not massively completely different. A disgrace to lose the place as a result of it might have been two extra factors.”
The 2025 F1 season concludes with the title-deciding Abu Dhabi Grand Prix live on Sky Sports F1 from Friday. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
