SPIELBERG, Austria – June 30, 2025 — Max Verstappen was eliminated from his home Red Bull team’s race in a dramatic early collision at the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday, after rookie Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli misjudged braking at Turn 3 and crashed into the Dutchman’s car.
Despite the high-stakes incident, Verstappen struck a forgiving tone, calling the crash a “mistake that every driver has made.” The collision occurred just moments after the race start, with Antonelli—still in his debut season—locking up and making heavy contact with Verstappen, taking both drivers out of contention.
“Kimi is a very big talent,” Verstappen told reporters after the race. “He learns from that, you know, and that’s all fine.” The three-time world champion added: “Every driver has made a mistake like that. No one does these things on purpose. It can happen.”
Antonelli, 18, was quick to own up to the error. He approached Verstappen immediately after the incident to apologise—an act the Dutch driver appreciated. “It’s, of course, very nice,” Verstappen said. “But, for me, it was already case closed anyway. I saw what happened.”
The FIA reviewed the incident and handed Antonelli a three-place grid penalty for next weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone, citing the rookie for causing a collision.
However, many in the paddock acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, especially given the tightly packed field and unpredictable braking dynamics during the early laps.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Antonelli explained what went wrong: “I didn’t brake necessarily too late. When I braked, I locked the rears and I lost the car. I had to avoid [Racing Bulls’ Liam] Lawson, and I was just trying to slow down. I locked up the front-left as well.”
The Italian continued, “I tried as much as possible to slow down the car, but unfortunately it was Max and I hit him. I am sorry towards him and the team as well because it was a mistake.”
The incident is a setback for both teams, particularly Red Bull, who were hoping for a strong finish at their home race in Austria. Verstappen had started the race from the front row and was a strong contender for victory before being forced into early retirement.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff expressed support for Antonelli while acknowledging the rookie’s inexperience. “Mistakes like these are painful but part of the learning curve,” Wolff said. “Kimi has the speed and the mindset to bounce back.”
Meanwhile, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner praised Verstappen’s mature response and emphasised that the team would refocus ahead of the British Grand Prix.
For Antonelli, the Austrian Grand Prix will serve as a harsh but valuable lesson in Formula 1 racecraft. For Verstappen, it was a missed opportunity—but one met with grace and understanding. As the championship race heats up, all eyes now turn to Silverstone, where both drivers will seek redemption.