Max Verstappen’s hopes of a strong showing at the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix were dashed on the opening lap after a collision with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, forcing both drivers out of the race at the Red Bull Ring. The four-time Formula 1 world champion, starting from seventh on the grid, labeled the incident as “unlucky” but showed understanding toward the young Italian, emphasizing that such mistakes are part of racing.
The incident occurred at Turn 3, where Antonelli, starting ninth, misjudged his braking and locked his rear wheels while attempting to avoid Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto. This caused him to slam into the back of Verstappen’s Red Bull, spinning both cars and ending their races immediately. The safety car was deployed to clear the wreckage, marking a disappointing end to Verstappen’s 31-race points-scoring streak and a frustrating home Grand Prix for Red Bull, with teammate Yuki Tsunoda finishing last after separate incidents.
Speaking to the media after the race, Verstappen remained composed, refusing to place blame on Antonelli. “Unlucky, I guess. It is what it is,” he said, noting that he spoke with Antonelli shortly after the crash. “He even came to the hospitality. I think every driver has made a mistake like that. No one does that on purpose, so for me, it’s not a big deal.” Verstappen’s gracious response contrasted with his initial frustration over the team radio, where he vented about “f***ing idiots” before realizing Antonelli was the culprit.
The Dutchman’s weekend had already been challenging. During qualifying, Verstappen struggled with a “nervous” and “snappy” Red Bull, finishing seventh after yellow flags, triggered by Pierre Gasly’s spin, forced him to abort his final flying lap. “It was not the weekend we hoped for pace-wise,” Verstappen admitted. “Then, of course, we were a bit unlucky in qualifying with that yellow flag, otherwise you start a bit further ahead. Then the race was unlucky again. Sometimes you have those weekends.”
Antonelli, who had celebrated his first F1 podium in Canada two weeks prior, was apologetic for the error. “I didn’t brake too late, but when I braked, I locked the rears and just couldn’t stop the car,” he explained. “I’m just super sorry to the team and, of course, to Max, because he was just a passenger.” The incident added to Mercedes’ mixed fortunes, with George Russell salvaging fifth place despite the team’s struggles in the hot Spielberg conditions.
The collision dealt a blow to Verstappen’s championship aspirations. He now trails McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by 61 points in the Drivers’ Standings, with Lando Norris securing victory in Austria ahead of Piastri. Red Bull’s lack of points at their home circuit, coupled with McLaren’s consistent pace, highlighted the tightening competition in 2025.
Despite the setback, Verstappen remained philosophical, acknowledging his strong history at the Red Bull Ring, where he has won five times since 2014. “It’s not what you want,” he said, addressing the disappointment of the Dutch fans who filled the stands. “We had a lot of great moments here, so we got a little bit spoiled as well.” As the season progresses, Verstappen will look to rebound at the upcoming British Grand Prix, where he also faces the pressure of avoiding further penalty points, sitting just one shy of a race ban after incidents earlier in the season.