Eliska Babickova has confirmed her relationship with Mercedes Formula 1 driver Kimi Antonelli is over, taking to Instagram to address what she described as "false, disgusting narratives" spreading across the internet.
The Czech karting professional chose to speak publicly about the split in order to set the record straight amid widespread speculation.
Babickova, who boasts 170,000 followers on the platform, revealed she was the one who ended things with the 19-year-old Italian racer.
The announcement comes after weeks of online rumours, which the professional driver said had misrepresented the nature of their relationship and prompted her to finally break her silence.
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The pair reportedly started their romance in October 2023, with Babickova making her debut appearance in the Formula 1 paddock at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix the following year.
She became a familiar face alongside Antonelli at race weekends during their time together.
However, signs of trouble emerged in late January when Babickova posted a message to her followers apologising for her absence from social media.
Kimi Antonelli pictured with Eliska Babickova last year
|GETTY
"Sorry guys, I've been super inactive lately," she wrote at the time.
"January was a tough month for me, and I wanted to focus on figuring some of my personal things out."
The couple spent February attempting to resolve their issues before ultimately parting ways.
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F1 facts fans might not know | GETTY/GBNEWSExplaining her decision to her followers, Babickova said the separation was recent, noting that throughout February the couple had been "trying to figure stuff out" and were uncertain about where their relationship stood.
"Yes, we did break up. I was the one to end the relationship because I felt that we no longer aligned in our personal lives and in what we wanted for our future," she stated.
She added that their values had diverged significantly towards the end, leading to the split.
"There's no massive drama. Nothing like this," Babickova emphasised, dismissing sensationalised accounts as "super misrepresentative" of what they shared.
Crucially, she stressed that "other people were never the problem" despite the difficulties they faced.
Kimi Antonelli is currently preparing for the start of the new F1 season
|GETTY
The confirmation of their split arrives at a particularly significant moment in Antonelli's career, with the season-opening practice session in Melbourne scheduled for 6 March – just over a week away.
The young Italian will be looking to put personal matters aside as he prepares for what promises to be a competitive campaign.
Mercedes have shown impressive pace during pre-season testing, positioning Antonelli among the favourites heading into the new championship.
The 19-year-old will be hoping to channel his focus entirely on the track as he embarks on what could prove to be a breakthrough season for the Silver Arrows outfit in the sport's new regulatory era.