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Kimi Antonelli said he was “super sorry” to have withdrawn Max Verstappen from the Austrian Grand Prix while a first-touch collision between the pair earned Mercedes pilot a grid penalty for the next weekend race in Silverstone.
Antonelli was caught up in turn 3 while he was locking his tires and recovered in the Red Bull of a helpless Verstappen, the resulting damage forcing them to immediately withdraw from the race.
With the 18 -year -old Mercedes pilot outside the race in Spielberg, his punishment for having caused the collision is delayed until the next round, the commissioners who decided a three -seater grid penalty for the British Grand Prix, as well as two penalty points, were appropriate.
Antonelli said Sky Sports F1: “I was not necessarily too late, it’s just that when I braked, I braked hard because I was behind other cars, and at that time, I locked the rear. Then, I couldn’t stop the car.
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Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen gave their reaction to the first round of the Tour, which took them both from the Austrian Grand Prix.
“I locked the rear, then I lost the car, then I had to avoid (Liam) Lawson. Then it was too late because I just arrived too quickly. I started to lock the front and instead of decelerating, I accelerated. The car only took speed and the accident was inevitable.
“Feel super sorry for the team, and for Max of course, because he was obviously just a passenger.”
Antonelli was expressed before the commissioners did their investigation into the incident, but seemed to be aware that a penalty was probably when he focused on the return to Silverstone form.
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Highlights of an exciting Austrian Grand Prix in the Red Bull ring.
He added: “Of course, it’s a big mistake. Now we have to go ahead and focus on Silverstone.
“We will see if we get a penalty or not, but it will be important to come back and start to do as I did in Canada.”
Verstappen weekend “Unlucky” streets
Verstappen had already suffered from misfortune on Saturday when his last attempted tower in qualification was ruined by Pierre Gasly Spinning, leaving the Dutch seventh on the grid.
He paid for the ultimate price for starting in the midfield when he became a helpless victim of Antonelli’s error.
Verstappen said Sky Sports F1: “It’s unlucky, as yesterday in qualifying.
“But overall, we didn’t really have this excellent rhythm this weekend, so a lot of learning for us how we can do better next weekend. But of course, not an ideal result today.”
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A late yellow flag caused by Pierre Gasly saw the maximum of Verstappen under the deposit of the last tower and Lando Norris take the post in Austria.
Asked about his conversation with Antonelli immediately after the incident, Verstappen explained: “I just asked what had happened, because he was the only car that was there with his suspended wheel, so I said to myself, maybe, well, I’m almost sure he hit me.
“Then, of course, I saw the images once I came back and it happens. Each driver made such an error. Everyone has made a mistake like that in his career and also Kimi is a very big talent, so he learns that and everything is fine.”
The incident was a major blow to the already Hopes of Verstappen to win a fifth successive world championship, with his deficit for leader Oscar Piastri going to 61 points while the Australian finished second behind his teammate of McLaren Lando Norris.
When he was asked if the Sunday race had ended his title hopes, Verstappen said: “I hope people will not mention it too much.
“We are trying to do our best, always. My mentality does not change. We have won a lot in the past.
“Sometimes you have to accept that you don’t win, and we just try to do our best.”
Wolff: These errors occur
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said he didn’t know if the incident was caused by a driver error or a problem with the car.
He said: “These errors occur. The rear was locked on his car. I don’t know if it was his fault or the system. I have not yet seen data, but it happens.
Antonelli crashed in Verstappen in the first round
“It is regrettable for Max and Red Bull that Kimi hit him. It’s the race.
“Kimi entered the garage quickly and I said” well it was not great “that he obviously knew. He said that the tires had just loaned.
“There is a margin of error in our company. It is a shame that we have taken another car with us, but it can happen to the big ones, the inexperienced, the experienced.”
The next stage of the Formula 1 season in 2025 is the big, the British Grand Prix in Silverstone – Live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Showcase with coverage from Thursday to Sunday at 3 p.m. Stream Sky Sports with now – no contract, cancel at any time.
