Verstappen's title hopes take a major hit after opening lap crash
Max Verstappen's Championship Hopes Dented by First-Lap Crash at Austrian Grand Prix
Max Verstappen's bid for a third consecutive Formula 1 championship suffered a crushing blow at the Austrian Grand Prix after the Red Bull driver was taken out on the very first lap by Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli. The dramatic incident unfolded at Turn 3 of the Spielberg circuit, leaving Verstappen’s home crowd stunned.
The Dutchman, who started the race seventh on the grid, had been attempting to claw back points on championship leader Oscar Piastri. Verstappen, already 43 points behind in the standings coming into the weekend, now finds himself facing an even steeper climb after Piastri secured second place in Sunday’s race, further extending the gap to 61 points.
The Incident at Turn 3
The incident occurred shortly after the lights went out, with Verstappen making a strong start and gaining a place on Liam Lawson at Turn 1. As he positioned his Red Bull for an attack on the cars ahead, Antonelli made a costly error in judgment. The Mercedes driver, attempting to challenge Lawson and Gabriel Bortoleto for sixth place, locked up his brakes and lunged aggressively to the inside of Turn 3. Failing to slow his car in time, Antonelli not only missed the corner apex but also collided heavily with Verstappen. Both drivers skidded into the run-off area and were forced to retire on the spot.
Visibly frustrated, Verstappen vented his anger over the team radio, saying, "I'm out, I got hit … F---ing idiots."
The rookie, who has shown flashes of potential in his early F1 outings but has also struggled with consistency, quickly took responsibility for the error:
"Sorry about that. I locked the rear, sorry," Antonelli admitted over team radio.
A Bitter Result for Red Bull
For Red Bull and Verstappen, the result is a bitter pill to swallow, especially at a track where the Dutchman has previously found so much success. The DNF all but eliminates what slim hopes Verstappen had of challenging for this year’s title, barring a miraculous turnaround.
Meanwhile, Piastri's consistent performance continues to underline his credentials as this season’s front-runner, with the McLaren driver cementing his lead in the championship after finishing just behind race winner Charles Leclerc. For Mercedes, Antonelli's misstep clouds what has otherwise been a season of gradual progress as the team looks ahead to turning their rookie’s raw pace into control and precision.
Looking Ahead to the British Grand Prix
As the championship nears its midpoint, the focus now shifts to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, where Verstappen will need not only a clean race weekend but also a touch of fortune to begin clawing his way back into contention. The question now is whether the reigning champion can find a way to salvage his season, or if the spotlight will firmly shift to the Piastri era.
Up Next
