Kimi Antonelli apologises to Max Verstappen as Mercedes driver receives British GP grid penalty for inflicting crash in Austria | F1 Information

Kimi Antonelli stated he was “tremendous sorry” for taking Max Verstappen out of the Austrian Grand Prix as a first-lap collision between the pair earned the Mercedes driver a grid penalty for subsequent weekend’s race at Silverstone.

Antonelli was caught out at Flip 3 as he locked up his tyres and shunted into the Crimson Bull of a helpless Verstappen, with the ensuing injury forcing each to instantly retire from the race.

With the 18-year-old Mercedes driver out of the race in Spielberg, his punishment for inflicting the collision is delayed till the subsequent spherical, with the stewards deciding a three-place grid penalty for the British Grand Prix, together with two penalty factors, have been acceptable.

Antonelli advised Sky Sports activities F1: “I did not essentially brake too late, it is simply that once I braked, I braked onerous as a result of I used to be behind different vehicles, and in that second, I locked the rears. Then I simply could not cease the automotive.

“I locked the rear after which misplaced the automotive after which needed to keep away from (Liam) Lawson. Then it was too late as a result of I used to be arriving simply too fast. I began to lock the entrance and as a substitute of decelerating, I used to be accelerating. The automotive was simply taking velocity, and the crash was inevitable.

“Simply really feel tremendous sorry to the crew, and to Max after all, as a result of clearly he was only a passenger.”

Antonelli was talking earlier than the stewards had carried out their investigation into the incident, however gave the impression to be conscious a penalty was doubtless as he centered on returning to kind at Silverstone.

He added: “After all, it is a large mistake. Now we have to transfer ahead and deal with Silverstone.

“We’ll see if we get a penalty or not, however it will be essential to get again and begin doing like I did in Canada.”

Verstappen rues ‘unfortunate’ weekend

Verstappen had already suffered misfortune on Saturday when his closing try at a flying lap in qualifying was ruined by Pierre Gasly spinning, leaving the Dutchman seventh on the grid.

He paid the final word value for beginning within the midfield as he grew to become the helpless sufferer of Antonelli’s error.

Verstappen advised Sky Sports activities F1: “It is simply unfortunate, like yesterday in qualifying.

“However total, we did not actually have that nice tempo anyway this weekend, so numerous studying for us how we will hopefully do higher subsequent weekend. However after all, not a perfect end result at present.”

The incident was a significant blow to Verstappen’s already faint hopes of profitable a fifth successive world championship, along with his deficit to chief Oscar Piastri rising to 61 factors because the Australian completed second to McLaren team-mate Lando Norris.

Requested whether or not Sunday’s race had ended his title hopes, Verstappen stated: “Hopefully then folks won’t point out it an excessive amount of anymore.

“We attempt to do our greatest, at all times. My mentality does not change. We have received quite a bit up to now.

“Generally it’s important to settle for that you’re not profitable, and we simply attempt to do the very best that we will.”

Subsequent up within the 2025 Method 1 season is the large one, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone – stay on Sky Sports activities F1 and Sky Showcase with protection from Thursday to Sunday’s race at 3pm. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime.