Max Verstappen Accepts Apology After Kimi Antonelli's Crash at Austrian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen has downplayed the impact of a dramatic first-lap collision with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli during the Austrian Grand Prix, stating that "every driver has made a mistake like that." The incident occurred at the third corner when Antonelli misjudged his braking and collided with Verstappen's Red Bull, forcing both drivers into an early retirement.

Verstappen, who had scored points in the previous 31 Formula 1 races, was philosophical about the crash. "Kimi is a very big talent, so he learns from that, and that's all fine," the Dutchman commented. Antonelli promptly apologised for the incident, a gesture Verstappen appreciated. "It's, of course, very nice. But, for me, it was already case closed anyway. I saw what happened. No-one does these things on their own purpose. It can happen."

The 18-year-old Italian driver explained the sequence of events that led to the crash. "I didn't brake necessarily too late, but when I braked, I locked the rears and lost the car. I had to avoid Liam Lawson and was trying to slow down, but unfortunately, I hit Max. I am sorry towards him and the team as well because it was a mistake," Antonelli told BBC Radio 5 Live. As a result, he received a three-place grid penalty for the upcoming British Grand Prix.

The collision proved costly for Verstappen in the drivers' championship standings. With McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri securing a one-two finish in Austria, Verstappen now trails Piastri by 61 points. Despite this setback, the reigning world champion remains focused on improving his car's performance. "I was never thinking about that anyway. We just take it race by race. We try to find more performance with the car and learn from all the things we are doing," he said.

Looking ahead to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Verstappen acknowledged McLaren's strong pace. "Normally, we are a bit better in high-speed corners, but the pace of McLaren is insane. I'm not saying that we are going to beat them in Silverstone," he admitted. While Red Bull plans to introduce further upgrades, Verstappen remains cautious about their impact. "There are bits coming. Is it enough to challenge McLaren? I'm not sure yet. Probably not," he added.

Despite the challenges, Verstappen remains optimistic. "I don't want to sound depressed. Everyone in the team always gives it 100%. We keep pushing, keep learning, and keep trying to bring more performance to the car. That's the only thing we can do," he concluded.

The incident has sparked discussions about the pressures faced by young drivers like Antonelli, who is in his debut F1 season. As the championship battle intensifies, all eyes will be on Silverstone to see how the teams and drivers respond.