Ugly scenes involving a small section of Ferrari supporters who lashed out at Kimi Antonelli: “Don’t show up in Monza.”
The Dutch Grand Prix stirred emotions… but not just for the on-track spectacle. Caught up in the storm was young Kimi Antonelli, who became the target of Ferrari fans’ anger after an incident that forced Charles Leclerc out of the race.
The young Italian had been running an aggressive and impressive race, pulling off bold overtakes and showing competitive pace. The turning point came when Leclerc, after a pit stop, rejoined the track right ahead of Antonelli. Determined to defend his position, the Italian went for a risky move on the inside of Turn 3 — one that proved disastrous.
Antonelli clipped the #16 Ferrari, forcing Leclerc — who until then had been delivering a superb race, highlighted by a spectacular move on Russell — into immediate retirement. For Ferrari, already hit by Hamilton’s crash at the same corner earlier, it meant a double blow and a weekend ending with zero points.
Antonelli, his car damaged with a puncture, carried on to finish 16th. On top of that came penalties: 10 seconds for the clash with Leclerc and another 5 for speeding in the pit lane.
Ferrari fans’ anger explodes online
The backlash from Ferrari supporters was swift and merciless. Within hours, Antonelli was swamped with criticism on social media: insults, blame, and even shocking messages telling him not to attend the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. “Stay home” and “Don’t show your face in Monza” were among the most common (and shameful) comments, a testament to the frustration of fans who saw Leclerc as their only chance for a strong result at Zandvoort.
PHOTO – THE INSULTS AIMED AT KIMI ANTONELLI
For Antonelli, who is set to contest his second home Grand Prix in Formula 1 after Imola, the atmosphere heading into Monza is far from welcoming. The real question now is whether the young talent can shake off the criticism and turn the tide with a strong performance in front of the Italian crowd. A challenge within the challenge — perhaps the toughest yet in his fledgling career.
Photo: Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, Formula 1
