Andrea Kimi Antonelli has been given a grid penalty by the race stewards for his collision with Max Verstappen in the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday. The 18-year-old Italian will have to move back three places on the starting grid next week at Silverstone.
Antonelli made a mistake in the opening lap of the race at the Red Bull Ring and touched Verstappen on the rear wheel. The race was immediately over for both drivers.
The race management examined the situation: “Antonelli locked his rear brakes heading into turn 3 and collided with Verstappen. He admitted to the stewards that he had made a mistake, although he braked at his normal braking point. But he wanted to avoid a crash with the car in front of him and therefore released the brake for a moment. In an evasive maneuver, the car came onto the inside line, where there is less grip. As a result, he could no longer brake enough to avoid car 1.”
Antonelli was found fully responsible for the incident by the stewards, but they added that it was not a clearly conscious action. It was the result of an evasive maneuver.
‘I am very disappointed’
The young Italian reacted dejectedly afterwards. “I am very disappointed with how things went today. I only wanted to keep my place, but already made a mistake in the first corner. That cost me a lot. Heading into turn 3, I didn’t brake too late, but I had to avoid Liam Lawson. First the rear brakes locked, then the front brakes as well. That’s why I couldn’t avoid Max anymore.”
“This was a big mistake,” the Mercedes driver was self-critical. “Apologies to Max that I also ruined his race. Fortunately, we have another race immediately next week.”
Verstappen does not blame Antonelli
Team boss Toto Wolff spoke of an ‘unfortunate mistake’ by his debuting driver this year. “But this is racing. We still need to analyze why his tires locked up like that. It was a shame for Kimi, for the team and of course for Max. But this is sometimes part of it.”
Verstappen was approached by the guilty Antonelli while he was already back in the Red Bull accommodation, but does not blame him for anything. “It was unfortunate, but Kimi doesn’t do this on purpose. He apologized when we walked back and then came to my room to do it again. Kimi and I get along well. He is a great guy and a super talented driver.”