Featured Image Credit: F1
Topics: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Mercedes, Formula 1, Austria
Ryan Smart
Topics: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Mercedes, Formula 1, Austria
Max Verstappen has revealed what he told Kimi Antonelli immediately after their race-ending collision at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Heading into the turn three hairpin on the first lap of the Grand Prix, Antonelli locked his rear brakes and speared into Verstappen, hitting the Red Bull's right rear tyre with his Mercedes.
Both drivers suffered suspension damage that forced them to retire, with the Italian rookie apologising to his team over the radio.
TV cameras captured Verstappen and Antonelli in conversation following the incident, although the reigning four-time champion was removing his helmet at the time so it was unclear as to exactly what he said.
The Dutchman has since revealed details of what was said between the pair.
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Speaking to media after the race in Spielberg, Verstappen said: "I just asked what happened, because he was the only car that was there with me, with this wheel hanging off. So I was like, 'I'm pretty sure he hit me'.
"And yeah, then, of course, I saw the footage once I came back, and it happens. Every driver has made a mistake like that in their career. And also, Kimi is a very big talent, so he learns from that, and that's all fine."
Antonelli would subsequently receive a three-place grid penalty for the British Grand Prix, with two penalty points also added to his FIA Super Licence for the next 12 months.
Following Verstappen's retirement, Red Bull's nightmare day continued at their home Grand Prix.
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The Dutchman's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda ran near the back of the field for the entirety of the race, and suffered front wing damage when he hit Alpine's Franco Colapinto out of turn four.
Tsunoda eventually finished 12th, with Red Bull once again reminded of the fundamental issues with their car as one of the drivers from their Racing Bulls sister team, Liam Lawson, crossed the line in sixth place.
The Japanese driver is now the third man to drive the second Red Bull in the past 12 races, with Lawson competing in the first two Grands Prix of the season after replacing Sergio Perez.
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Verstappen's astonishing record of picking up 155 of Red Bull's 162 points this season stays intact - but one of his other records has been broken.
His first-lap retirement means that the Dutchman's streak of 31 consecutive points finishes is now over, a streak that extends back to the 2024 Japanese Grand Prix.