Kimi Antonelli penalized for Austria GP collision; three-place Grid penalty at Silverstone
Mercedes Rookie Kimi Antonelli Hit With Grid Penalty After First-Lap Collision
Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli has been handed a three-place grid penalty for next weekend's British Grand Prix following his first-lap collision with Max Verstappen at the Red Bull Ring. The clash prematurely ended both drivers' Austrian Grand Prix, delivering a significant setback to Verstappen’s championship campaign.
The 18-year-old Italian driver made contact with Verstappen’s Red Bull after locking up his brakes into Turn 3 on the opening lap. Antonelli, unable to control his car, collided with Verstappen’s sidepod, causing irreparable damage to both cars and forcing them to retire. The incident marked a rare low point in the season for Verstappen, who is currently battling to close the gap to championship leader Oscar Piastri.
Post-race, Antonelli offered a public apology to Verstappen, who described the crash as "unlucky." However, race stewards took a more critical view of the incident, penalizing the young driver with a three-place grid drop for Silverstone and two penalty points—his first since joining Formula 1.
Steward Decision and Incident Analysis
In their official ruling, the stewards stated:
"The driver of Car 12 made a mistake as he locked up his rear wheels but was also trying to avoid a collision with Car 11 [Liam Lawson] ahead. In order to take evasive action, he released the brakes for a short period, leading to reduced grip on the dirty inside line. As a result, he was unable to decelerate sufficiently to avoid the collision with Car 1."
While the stewards acknowledged the complexities of Lap 1 incidents, they determined that Antonelli bore full responsibility.
"No other cars influenced the incident, and the driver of Car 12 is fully at fault. Therefore, the more lenient approach typically applied to Lap 1 incidents has not been considered in this case," their report read.
The ruling also emphasized that Antonelli’s actions were not perceived as reckless but rather as an error in judgment during an evasive maneuver.
"This was not a blatant attempt to dive into the corner but rather a result of an unfortunate sequence of events after locking up."
Driver and Team Reactions
Verstappen, clearly frustrated after the crash, vented his anger over team radio, calling it "f---ing idiots." However, the Dutchman accepted Antonelli’s apology following the race.
"I didn't necessarily brake too late," Antonelli explained in his post-race comments. "But when I did, I braked hard, and in that moment, I locked the rears and just couldn’t turn the car. It was too late—I was arriving too quick. The crash was inevitable. I just feel super sorry to the team and to Max, of course."
Championship Implications
The crash was a costly blow for Verstappen, whose championship deficit to title leader Oscar Piastri now sits at 61 points. The Australian driver extended his lead in the standings with a second-place finish behind McLaren’s Lando Norris, who claimed victory in Austria.
What Lies Ahead for Antonelli and Verstappen
As the F1 paddock turns its attention to Silverstone, the focus will be on whether Antonelli can regain composure and build on his promising potential—or whether incidents like Austria will continue to overshadow his rookie season. Meanwhile, Verstappen faces increasing pressure to recover precious points as the season intensifies.
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