Max Verstappen couldn’t resist a little jab towards Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The young Italian told the Dutch driver how he made a mistake on the Thursday before Monza by swearing during an official FIA press conference. Verstappen was previously penalized for a similar incident in Singapore 2024. “If you’re lucky, you get away with it,” the four-time world champion reassures Kimi Antonelli. “Otherwise, I can tell you what it’s like to do community service.”
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli spoke at length during the press conference on Thursday. The home hero received many questions ahead of the Grand Prix weekend at Monza, including one about the danger of the high-speed corners at the Temple of Speed. When he searched for the right words, things went wrong for the young Italian.
“But of course, we are fully aware of the risk that exists, because… ‘oh, shit’,” Kimi Antonelli blurted out a swear word. “Sorry. Oh my god. Sorry. Sorry. I swore. But oh my god. What have I done now? Yes. Now I’m going to worry about the fine that’s coming.”
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The Mercedes driver referred with his last remark among other things to the earlier penalty Max Verstappen had received for a similar offense. During the press conference for the GP Singapore 2024, the Dutchman also used a swear word. Verstappen was given community service at the end of that season for it.
Verstappen’s little jab
In a new video from Mercedes, the two drivers discuss Kimi Antonelli’s moment during the press conference for Monza. “During the press conference, I said ‘oh shit’,” the young Italian says, then explains: “Yes, but it was meant innocently, although it was inappropriate…” Verstappen reassures the Mercedes driver: “If you’re lucky, you get away with it. Otherwise, I can tell you what it’s like to do community service,” the four-time world champion teases his younger colleague.
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No heroics into turn one 😏😉 pic.twitter.com/FAp80Aya4c
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) September 3, 2026
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