Kim Kardashian sends Antonelli personalised towel to end Monaco podium controversy

Kim Kardashian has sent Mercedes Formula 1 driver Kimi Antonelli a personalised embroidered towel — inscribed “To Kimi, from Kim” — in a lighthearted response to the viral Monaco Grand Prix podium moment that generated significant online controversy earlier this month.

Antonelli received the gift, wrapped in a bow, following the second free practice session of the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix weekend. The gesture traces back to Monaco, where Kardashian — attending the race in support of Lewis Hamilton — picked up an unused towel Antonelli had left on the podium after being sprayed with champagne. The seemingly innocent act was captured on camera and spread rapidly across social media, drawing a wave of criticism toward Kardashian from a section of the F1 fanbase.

Both Antonelli and Mercedes had already laughed off the incident publicly, but Kardashian’s towel gift appears to have drawn a line under the episode in the most disarming way possible. Fan reaction to the gesture was largely warm. “She had the opportunity to do something funny and she did it,” one Reddit user wrote. Another predicted the moment would find its way onto Netflix’s Drive to Survive: “Towel Gate is gonna have a whole episode.”

Not everyone felt the original controversy warranted the heat it generated. “I’ve never seen a fanbase get SO angry about something so innocent,” one commenter wrote. “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.” Others were more concise: “All that hate and this is actually quite wholesome.”

On track, Antonelli heads into the Spanish Grand Prix in commanding form, leading the drivers’ championship by 66 points over Hamilton. Team-mate George Russell sits third, two points behind the seven-time champion.