Max Verstappen expressed comprehension after a first-lap incident with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli ended both their races at the Austrian Grand Prix. The crash occurred early in the event at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, prematurely halting Verstappen’s hopes on his home track and ending his 31-race points-scoring streak in Formula 1.
Antonelli misjudged his braking going uphill into Turn 3 during the race start. Attempting to avoid Gabriel Bortoleto‘s Sauber, Antonelli moved right but collided with the back of Verstappen’s Red Bull. Both cars sustained heavy damage, leading to immediate retirements and requiring the deployment of the safety car to clear the debris.
Details of the Incident and Verstappen’s Reaction
After the race, Verstappen described the clash as unfortunate and a case of being caught in the wrong place. Starting seventh on the grid after a difficult qualifying session, he reported having a strong start before the crash occurred. Verstappen recounted the moment:
“We had a good start, so that was really a nice improvement.”
Despite the setback, he maintained a measured perspective about the crash. When asked about the incident, Verstappen shared,
“I guess I was unlucky a little bit yesterday in qualifying and unlucky in the race, but if you look at the weekend, we were not where we wanted to be in terms of pace and we have to try and analyse that. Hopefully, I will have a little bit of a more positive weekend next week.”
Verstappen refrained from blaming Antonelli directly, acknowledging that errors like that can happen to any driver. He explained he only confirmed the cause after seeing the footage back in the garage, noting,
“No one does these things on purpose. It can happen.”
Verstappen’s Track Record at the Red Bull Ring and Fan Disappointment
Verstappen’s history at the venue is impressive, with five wins since the circuit’s return to Formula 1 in 2014, including the 2021 Styrian Grand Prix. This made the early retirement at the Austrian GP all the more painful, especially with the strong support from fans present at Spielberg.
Addressing the frustration, Verstappen said,
“It’s not what you want. At the end of the day, I’m most disappointed about that.”
He also reflected on the unpredictable nature of racing, stating,
“But that’s racing as well. We had a lot of great moments here, so we got a little bit spoiled as well.”
Next Steps After a Challenging Weekend
With the crash bringing an abrupt end to his points streak, Verstappen plans to focus on recovery and analysis ahead of upcoming races. He emphasized the need to understand their pace issues throughout the weekend in order to improve performance. The incident serves as a reminder of the challenges drivers face, especially rookies like Antonelli, when competing at this level.
The Austrian Grand Prix setback marks a tense moment for Verstappen and Red Bull, highlighting that even in familiar territory, unpredictable factors can quickly change the outcome of a race weekend. Fans and teams alike will be watching closely to see how Verstappen rebounds in the next events of the season.
