Kimi Antonelli vs. Carlos Sainz: The controversy continues to rage after their heated exchange

Friday’s free practice session at the Belgian Grand Prix is sparking debate for reasons that go beyond the lap times recorded. In fact, the near-collision between Kimi Antonelli and Carlos Sainz during the first session caused quite a stir: rather than dying down as the hours passed, the resulting controversy turned into a full-blown media sensation.

It all started during one of Antonelli’s flying laps: the Mercedes driver, finding himself behind Sainz’s Williams at reduced speed, was forced to brake sharply to avoid a collision. The driver from Bologna’s reaction over the radio was immediate and scathing, with an insult that quickly spread throughout the paddock (and on social media). The incident alone had already created tension, but Sainz’s response added further fuel to the fire.

Interviewed by AS at the end of the day, the Spaniard didn’t mince words: “Nothing happened; he probably thought I was trying to block him, but that wasn’t the case. He called me an ‘idiot’ over the radio—that’s not nice, and I think it’s even against the rules. He should calm down a bit.”

The young driver from Bologna chose not to respond publicly but opted for the most effective approach: the stopwatch. In the second free practice session, he set the fastest time—a sign that confirms his speed and his ability to tune out the controversy when it really matters.

The controversial incident has, however, divided the paddock: on one side are those who believe Antonelli overreacted, and on the other are those who argue that Sainz should have handled the situation on the track better. In the middle is the FIA, which chose not to penalize the Spaniard, fueling further debate about track safety during timed practice sessions.