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Motorsport

Lydia Mee

Kim Kardashian sends gift to Kimi Antonelli after viral Monaco GP mishap

Kimi Antonelli Kim Kardashian Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Monaco Grand Prix

Mercedes Formula 1 driver Kimi Antonelli has received an unexpected gift from reality television star and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian, following her Monaco Grand Prix podium celebration mishap.

Antonelli was handed an embroidered towel wrapped in a bow, with the message, "To Kimi, from Kim", following the second free practice session ahead of the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.

This came after Kardashian, who was supporting Lewis Hamilton on the podium, picked up an unused towel left by Antonelli after getting sprayed with champagne. Footage of the seemingly innocent moment quickly went viral on social media.

While Antonelli and Mercedes poked fun at and laughed off the moment, Kardashian received a lot of backlash online. But the gift has now hopefully brought that to an end.

"Winning successive races, getting personalised toiletries from Kim K, overcoming TIO2 curse. Kid's on a roll!" one fan commented on Reddit, while another added: "She had the opportunity to do something funny and she did it."

"To Kimi, from Kim."

Water under the bridge dries up nicely with a towel. 😅 pic.twitter.com/IkaOcS6FAs
— Motorsport (@Motorsport) June 12, 2026

"I’m glad something funny turned out from all the commotion of her grabbing the towel," someone else posted, and another wrote: "Wait till this makes it to Drive to Survive. Towel Gate is gonna have a whole episode."

Further comments included: "I've never seen a fanbase get SO angry about something so innocent, it's insane how weird a sector of F1 fandom has gotten, like people calling for her to be banned after smiling and not talking to Martin [Brundle] and Towel Gate - people need to touch grass for real," and "All that hate and this is actually quite wholesome."

Antonelli received the towel during the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix weekend. He heads into the race with a 66-point lead in the standings over Hamilton. Antonelli's team-mate George Russell follows in third, two points behind the seven-time champion.

Photos from Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

50 Formula 1

George Russell, Mercedes

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Alexander Albon, Williams

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Nico Hulkenberg, Audi F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Flavio Briatore, Alpine

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Koji Watanabe, President, CEO and Representative Director of Honda Racing Corporation

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes

Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix - Saturday

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