Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has come to the defense of his rookie driver, Kimi Antonelli, following a first-lap collision with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen that ended both drivers’ races. The incident, which occurred at Turn 3 of the Red Bull Ring, has sparked widespread discussion, with Wolff emphasizing that such mistakes are part of the learning curve in Formula 1, even for the sport’s greatest talents.
The race began with high hopes for Mercedes, with Antonelli starting in ninth and teammate George Russell in fifth. However, chaos ensued moments after the lights went out. Antonelli, an 18-year-old Italian prodigy, misjudged his braking point into the tight Turn 3, locking up his rear tires and slamming into Verstappen’s Red Bull. The impact sent debris flying and forced both cars into immediate retirement, marking Verstappen’s first DNF of the 2025 season and a significant blow to his championship aspirations. The FIA stewards deemed Antonelli at fault, handing him a three-place grid penalty for the upcoming British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
Wolff, speaking to the media post-race, expressed regret over the incident but was quick to shield his young driver from excessive criticism. “These mistakes happen,” Wolff stated, suggesting a possible technical issue may have contributed to the crash. “The rears locked on the car. I’m not entirely sure it was his fault or a system. It’s unfortunate for Max and Red Bull, but that’s racing.” He further noted that errors like this are not uncommon, even among seasoned drivers, adding, “It can happen to the great ones, to the inexperienced ones, to the experienced ones. It’s just part of Formula 1.”
The collision had significant ramifications. Verstappen, already trailing McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by 43 points in the championship standings entering the race, saw the gap widen to 61 points after McLaren secured a one-two finish with Lando Norris and Piastri. Verstappen, despite his frustration—evident in a heated radio message where he called the incident the work of “f***ing idiots”—remained gracious toward Antonelli. The four-time world champion accepted the rookie’s immediate apology, noting, “Every driver has made a mistake like that. Kimi is a very big talent, so he learns from that, and that’s all fine.”
Antonelli, who had arrived in Austria with momentum after securing his first F1 podium in Canada, took full responsibility for the crash. “Sorry about that. I locked the rear,” he told his Mercedes crew over the radio. He later visited Verstappen to apologize in person, a gesture the Dutchman appreciated, stating, “It was already case closed for me.” The incident, however, underscored the steep learning curve Antonelli faces in his debut season, having already retired from three of the last five races due to a mix of technical issues and this latest error.
Wolff’s defense of Antonelli comes amid heightened scrutiny of the young Italian, who has been hailed as a future star but also faces intense pressure from the Italian media. Following his Canadian podium, headlines in Italy dubbed him a “legend,” a label Wolff has previously called “dangerous” for an 18-year-old navigating his first F1 season. “We must create a shield around him and avoid putting too much pressure on him,” Wolff had warned days before the Austrian Grand Prix, highlighting the challenges of managing expectations for a driver seen as a potential successor to Mercedes’ legacy of champions.
The incident also fueled speculation about Mercedes’ driver lineup for 2026, with rumors swirling about a potential move for Verstappen to replace either Antonelli or Russell, whose contract expires at the end of 2025. Wolff has dismissed suggestions that signing Verstappen would “ruin” Antonelli, reaffirming his commitment to the young Italian as part of Mercedes’ long-term plans. “Antonelli will probably need a three-year program,” Wolff told Bloomberg, drawing parallels to Piastri’s gradual rise to competitiveness at McLaren.
For now, Wolff’s focus is on supporting Antonelli as he prepares for Silverstone, where the grid penalty will make his task tougher. “He came into the garage quickly,” Wolff said of their post-crash conversation, where his initial reaction was a candid, “Well, that wasn’t great.” Yet, he remains optimistic about Antonelli’s potential, emphasizing that the team will analyze the incident to determine if a technical fault played a role. “We need to look at the data and understand what happened,” Wolff added, determined to help his rookie bounce back.