Sainz Tells Antonelli to Calm Down After Radio Insult

Carlos Sainz has hit back at Formula 1 championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli after the Mercedes driver branded him an idiot over team radio during Friday practice at Spa-Francorchamps.

The flashpoint came at Blanchimont during the opening session, where the two drivers clashed over track position. Antonelli, forced to abort his run after Sainz backed off through the high-speed corner, vented immediately. "Sainz, what an idiot!" he radioed to Mercedes. Sainz responded through his own Williams radio, saying he did not understand why Antonelli had thrown the car into him.

Speaking after practice, Sainz was measured but pointed. He acknowledged Antonelli may have felt impeded but argued the Straight Mode system made it physically impossible to simply move aside. "You cannot turn because you have no downforce with the wings open," he said. "But I don't think he should call me an idiot either, on the radio — I think that's forbidden, to swear and insult a rival. I think he should calm down a bit."

Antonelli, after topping the second session, admitted the reaction was "not the best" in the heat of the moment but stood by his concern. "I had to abort and it was quite risky," the Italian said. "It was quite dangerous."

Sainz ended Friday 16th, one place behind Williams team-mate Alex Albon in 15th. Antonelli leads the championship standings by 25 points over Mercedes team-mate George Russell, with the Belgian Grand Prix now the next flashpoint on the F1 calendar for the pair to manage.

First reported by Crash.net F1.