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Max Verstappen Fumes After Antonelli Clash Triggers First DNF of 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Max Verstappen’s disappointing 2025 season hit another dramatic snag at the Austrian Grand Prix when he was punted out of the race by Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli on the very first lap of the 2035 Austrian GP.
As the lights went out at Spielberg after a 10-min delayed start, Verstappen made a clean getaway but just moments later, chaos unfolded at Turn . Antonlelli braked far too late and plowed straight into the side of the Red Bull, sending debris flying and Verstappen spinning off into retirement.
It marks the reigning World Champion’s first DNF of the season, and a huge twist in what has been a difficult title run so far.
Verstappen was furious on team radio, fuming: “I’m out, I got hit like crazy. [Expletive] idiots.” Meanwhile, a shaken Antonelli immediately apologized to his Mercedes crew, admitting, “Sorry about that, I locked the rear.”
Max Verstappen talks to media during qualifying in Spain.Clive Rose/Getty Images
Sky Sports F1 pundit Karun Chandhok didn’t mince words, calling it a rookie blunder: “Could you put it down as a rookie error?I am not sure Max Verstappen will take that as any consolation.”
With the safety car deployed to clear up the mess, championship maths suddenly look more intriguing. Verstappen had been trying to catch up to the McLarens in the standings, but this non-finish pushed him further behind.
For Antonelli, it’s a hard lesson under the spotlight. For Verstappen it’s a bitter pill to swallow — and a reminder that in F1, even a dominant champion can unravel in a heartbeat.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Continue reading...
Max Verstappen’s disappointing 2025 season hit another dramatic snag at the Austrian Grand Prix when he was punted out of the race by Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli on the very first lap of the 2035 Austrian GP.
As the lights went out at Spielberg after a 10-min delayed start, Verstappen made a clean getaway but just moments later, chaos unfolded at Turn . Antonlelli braked far too late and plowed straight into the side of the Red Bull, sending debris flying and Verstappen spinning off into retirement.
It marks the reigning World Champion’s first DNF of the season, and a huge twist in what has been a difficult title run so far.
Verstappen was furious on team radio, fuming: “I’m out, I got hit like crazy. [Expletive] idiots.” Meanwhile, a shaken Antonelli immediately apologized to his Mercedes crew, admitting, “Sorry about that, I locked the rear.”
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Max Verstappen talks to media during qualifying in Spain.Clive Rose/Getty Images
Sky Sports F1 pundit Karun Chandhok didn’t mince words, calling it a rookie blunder: “Could you put it down as a rookie error?I am not sure Max Verstappen will take that as any consolation.”
With the safety car deployed to clear up the mess, championship maths suddenly look more intriguing. Verstappen had been trying to catch up to the McLarens in the standings, but this non-finish pushed him further behind.
For Antonelli, it’s a hard lesson under the spotlight. For Verstappen it’s a bitter pill to swallow — and a reminder that in F1, even a dominant champion can unravel in a heartbeat.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Continue reading...
