Carlos Sainz shared a strong response to Kimi Antonelli calling him an “idiot” during the Belgian GP FP1, saying that insulting a fellow driver is “forbidden.” Sainz also said that he did not think that he impeded Antonelli in any way during the on-track incident that led to the moment.
Antonelli and Sainz were involved in a dangerous moment in the first 20 minutes of FP1 at Spa on Friday, as the former encountered the slow-moving Williams of the latter on the racing line at Turn 15. The Mercedes driver took avoiding action as he went past but was less than happy with the Spaniard, calling him an “idiot” over the team radio.
Sainz was seemingly unaware that Antonelli was on a fast lap behind him and seemed surprised as he came past. But speaking to the media about the moment and Antonelli’s reaction, the 31-year-old had a sharp response, as he said [via The Race]:
“I think he felt like I impeded him, I don’t feel like I did.”
“I don’t think he should call me an idiot on the radio. I think that is forbidden, to swear and insult another rival. So I think he should calm down a bit.”
This wasn’t the only controversial incident Carlos Sainz was involved in during FP1 at the Belgian GP. The Williams driver was also referred to the stewards for crossing the white line on pit entry during the session. He subsequently received a reprimand after the stewards’ investigation.
Sainz ended FP1 in P20, nearly a second and a half behind his teammate Alex Albon in P14. FP2 was also challenging for the four-time race winner, as he finished P16 and still found himself around three tenths slower than his Thai teammate.
Kimi Antonelli shares his side of the story after “dangerous” Carlos Sainz incident
Kimi Antonelli explained the incident between himself and Carlos Sainz during Belgian GP FP1, saying that Sainz backing off into a fast corner was “quite risky.” The teenager admitted that he may have reacted harshly in the heat of the moment but still branded the moment as “dangerous.”
Speaking to the media about the incident on Friday, Antonelli said:
“I mean, he backed off out of a fast corner, you exit in seventh gear, and I had to abort and it was quite risky,” Antonelli said afterwards.
“So of course I was not happy with it and of course what I said probably, in the heat of the moment, is not the best, but it was quite dangerous.”
Antonelli did not enjoy FP1, finishing sixth and over five tenths of a second slower than Max Verstappen in P1. But FP2 was a different story as the Italian driver dominated the session, ending on top with a 1:45.944 lap.
Edited by Samyak Sharma
