Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli has been handed a three-place grid penalty for the upcoming British Grand Prix at Silverstone, following a first-lap collision with four-time world champion Max Verstappen. The incident, which occurred at Turn 3 of the Red Bull Ring, resulted in both drivers retiring from the race, dealing a significant blow to Verstappen’s title aspirations and marking a challenging moment in Antonelli’s debut Formula 1 season.
The collision took place during a chaotic opening lap in scorching conditions at the Austrian Grand Prix. Starting from P9, Antonelli locked up his rear brakes while braking hard into Turn 3, attempting to navigate around Liam Lawson’s car ahead. The 18-year-old Italian explained that he released the brakes momentarily to avoid contact with Lawson, but this led to a loss of grip on the dirty inside line, causing his Mercedes to slide into Verstappen’s Red Bull. The impact was severe, with Verstappen’s car spinning off the track and sustaining terminal damage, marking his first retirement since the 2024 Australian Grand Prix, 31 races prior. Antonelli’s car was also too damaged to continue, ending both drivers’ races on the spot.
Stewards reviewed the incident post-race, summoning both drivers and analyzing video evidence. They concluded that Antonelli was “fully at fault” for the collision, noting that no other cars directly influenced the incident despite it occurring on the typically lenient first lap. However, they acknowledged that the crash was not a reckless maneuver but rather a consequence of evasive action following the brake lock-up. As a result, Antonelli was issued a three-place grid drop for the British Grand Prix, scheduled for July 4-6, 2025, along with two penalty points on his FIA Super Licence—the first of his young career. This penalty follows an earlier one-place grid drop Antonelli received in Bahrain for a qualifying infringement, marking his second such sanction this season.
Antonelli was quick to take responsibility, apologizing to both his team and Verstappen immediately after the incident. Speaking to Sky Sports, he clarified that the crash was not due to late braking but rather a misjudgment under hard braking behind other cars. “I locked the rear and then lost the car, and then had to avoid Lawson. Then it was too late because I was arriving just too quick. The crash was inevitable,” he said. “I’m super sorry to the team and to Max, of course, because he was just a passenger.” Despite the setback, Antonelli expressed determination to bounce back at Silverstone, referencing his strong performance in Canada, where he secured his maiden F1 podium with a third-place finish behind teammate George Russell.
Verstappen, despite his frustration, showed empathy toward the young Mercedes driver. Captured on television walking back with Antonelli after the crash, the Red Bull star described the incident as “unlucky” and expressed no hard feelings. “Every driver makes mistakes,” Verstappen said, calling Antonelli “a big talent” and encouraging him to learn from the experience. Verstappen’s gracious response contrasted with his initial radio outburst, where he labeled the incident the work of “f***ing idiots” before knowing Antonelli was responsible. The crash has left Verstappen 61 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri, who finished second behind Lando Norris in Austria, further intensifying the title race.
The stewards’ decision has sparked mixed reactions. Some fans have called the penalty harsh for a lap-one incident, while others argue it’s justified given the significant consequences for Verstappen’s race. Sky Sports pundit Karun Chandhok noted that while the crash could be attributed to a “rookie error,” it offered little consolation to Verstappen, whose championship hopes took a hit.