Max Verstappen’s Sunday in Spielberg turned into a nightmare almost as soon as it began.
The Austrian Grand Prix, typically a happy hunting ground for the Red Bull star, ended in bitter disappointment after a first-lap collision forced him out of the race — marking his first DNF in 31 races.
The Collision That Changed Everything
Things went south at Turn Three on the opening lap.
Verstappen, who had started in 7th position, found himself clipped by 18-year-old Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, who had begun just behind him in 9th.
The contact was heavy enough to send both cars out of the race, triggering an early safety car deployment.
As the dust settled, Verstappen didn’t hide his frustration.
Over the team radio, he fumed, “I’m out. I got hit like crazy,” and didn’t hold back in calling Antonelli a “f***ing idiot.”
Apology from the Rookie
To his credit, Antonelli owned up to the mistake immediately.
“Sorry about that, I locked the rear,” he said to his team.
He later approached Verstappen in the paddock to apologise face-to-face.
Verstappen, although clearly unhappy in the heat of the moment, seemed to accept the rookie’s apology once things cooled down.
Still, the crash was a major blow — especially at Red Bull’s home race, where Verstappen has previously won a record five times and usually enjoys roaring support from his sea of orange-clad fans.
Breaking a Long Streak
The incident meant that Verstappen’s impressive streak of 31 consecutive race finishes in the points came to a screeching halt.
For a driver as consistent as Max, it was a rare and frustrating end — especially as the championship battle heats up in the middle of the season.
Pundits Weigh In
Former F1 driver and Sky Sports commentator Karun Chandhok offered his thoughts after the crash.
“Could you put it down as a rookie error?” he said, referencing Antonelli’s limited experience.
“I’m not sure Max Verstappen will take that as any consolation,” he added, suggesting that race officials might consider a penalty for the young Mercedes driver.
More Drama Before the Lights Went Out
Even before the race officially got underway, there were signs of chaos.
Carlos Sainz’s Williams failed to move off the grid properly during the formation lap.
He eventually returned to the pits, but his car’s brakes caught fire, and the smoke-filled scene ended with his own early retirement before he could even compete.
