Mercedes mock Kimi Antonelli by highlighting the awkward rose‑water spray at the Bahrain Grand Prix podium.
Red Bull secures Bahrain win amid wet‑weather challenges
Max Verstappen clinched Red Bull’s first victory of the 2026 season, driving under slick, rain‑slicked conditions to take the Bahrain GP. Antonelli advanced from third on the grid to finish second, while Lewis Hamilton completed the podium in third place.
Podium mishap sparks online banter
During the celebration, Antonelli struggled to spray the alcohol‑free rose water that replaces champagne at the Bahrain Grand Prix, prompting Mercedes to post “You’d think he’d have gotten the hang of this by now!” on X. Fans reacted hotly, with one remarking that the unusual beverage was “poor Kimi,” and another noting that “they use rose water instead of the real champagne. This is under Bahrain GP rules.” A comment added that the driver “should’ve been told it was rose water, not champagne, poor kid.”
Antonelli’s second‑place finish widens title gap
The result gave Antonelli an 84‑point advantage over teammate George Russell. He said after the race, “Today was the maximum we could have done. Massive congrats to Max and Red Bull for the incredible weekend,” and added, “On our side, a lot of work to do. We have been struggling more than usual, but I’m still happy to come away with P2.”
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