ANTONELLI CRASHES INTO VERSTAPPEN AT AUSTRIAN GP: MAX'S FURY TURNS TO FORGIVENESS

Spielberg, Austria – Following his career-first podium finish and recent displays of maturity, Andrea Kimi Antonelli faced a tough day at the Austrian Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver from Bologna made a critical error during the second braking zone after the start of the Spielberg GP. In an attempt to avoid the car in front, he rear-ended an innocent Max Verstappen. The incident severely compromised both their races, forcing them to retire just hundreds of meters in.

Antonelli later apologized to the Dutchman for his first major mistake of his debut season. The four-time world champion, in turn, fairly accepted the 18-year-old's admission of guilt, despite initially reacting harshly by calling him "a f***ing idiot." Immediately after the collision, Antonelli had radioed his pit box: "Sorry, I locked the front." The incident sparked significant disappointment among Max's many fans at Red Bull's home race. Summoned to Race Control, the Italian driver was handed a three-place grid penalty for the next race (British Grand Prix) and had two penalty points deducted from his license.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli's Statement:

"It was clearly my mistake. I had to avoid a collision with Lawson. I didn't necessarily brake too late, but I locked up, and at that point, disaster happened. I'm sorry for the team and for Max, who had nothing to do with it. I expect a penalty for Silverstone."

Max Verstappen's Statement:

"Apology accepted. I have no problem with Kimi; in fact, I get along very well with him. Nobody does these things on purpose. This zero [points] doesn't change anything in the title race; my chances were already very slim before. I'm not thinking about it."