While Helmut Marko has been widely criticised for sparking the online abuse against Kimi Antonelli after the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix — by suggesting Antonelli deliberately “let” Lando Norris pass — an opinion piece argues that blaming him alone ignores larger issues.
The article points out the role of the race broadcast: on-screen coverage and commentary emphasised the overtake without showing Antonelli’s mistake in real time, then aired a radio message implying wrongdoing — a mix that misled many viewers and helped fuel the outrage.
Though Marko’s comments provoked the initial backlash — and he has since retracted and apologised — the piece argues the broadcast’s poor timing and narrative framing also bear responsibility for the wave of harassment against a young driver.