29/06/2025 18:45
Kimi Antonelli has explained that not changing the brake settings
on his Mercedes is ultimately what caused him to collide with Max
Verstappen at the Red Bull Ring. The pair retired on the first lap
of the Austrian Grand Prix after the Italian driver plunged up the
inside of Turn 3, hitting Liam Lawson and destroying the front left
corner of his car. He then made contact with the Red Bull, which
was spun around with terminal damage. Detailing what had caused him
to lock up into the corner, which was the catalyst for the double
retirement, the 18-year-old outlined how he should have altered the
brake setting on his W16. He claimed that had he done so, "none of
this would have happened" and that he was powerless to prevent the
accident with the configuration left as it was. "It was very
unfortunate," Antonelli told media, including RacingNews365 . "I
should have just changed the brake setting going into T3. "I had a
normal start, I was just trying to maintain position, and when I
went to hit the brake, I locked the rear completely, and I just
lost the car. "When I lost the car, then obviously I was about to
hit Lawson, because I lost a lot of deceleration, and then I had to
avoid Lawson. "When I reapplied the brake, I locked the front left
and just couldn't stop the car." He added: "It's the first mistake
I did at a race start, and it's a big lesson. I just should have
changed the brake setting, and none of this would have happened."
Exchange with Max Verstappen Antonelli instantly apologised to
Verstappen for his mistake, but could not hear what the Dutchman
had to say in response. The four-time F1 drivers' champion
subsequently explained what he had said to the Mercedes driver, who
was determined to say sorry again for causing the crash. "I
couldn't hear what he said, but I apologised to him," Antonelli
said when asked about his exchange with Verstappen. "I will try to
talk to him after, just to explain and to apologise once more. "I
feel very sorry towards my team, because it's a mistake from my
side. But as well, I ended his [Verstappen's] race, and it's
definitely not what I wanted." The FIA stewards called Antonelli
before them after the chequered flag in Spielberg, awarding him a
three-place grid penalty for the British Grand Prix and two penalty
points on his FIA super licence.
