Verstappen, Antonelli Crash; Penalty Issued in Austria

Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli collided with Max Verstappen on the opening lap of the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix, resulting in immediate retirements for both drivers and ending Verstappen’s 31-race points-scoring streak. Stewards ruled Antonelli fully at fault and handed him a three-place grid penalty for the next race at Silverstone. Verstappen, initially frustrated, later forgave Antonelli and called the incident a learning experience, while Antonelli issued a public apology and expressed deep remorse. The crash significantly damaged Verstappen’s title aspirations, as he fell 61 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri, with McLaren maintaining a strong lead. Team principals and both drivers emphasized moving forward and improving. Antonelli now aims to rebound in Silverstone as Verstappen's team analyzes their performance.