Sadly!!! Devastating crash at Austrian GP sidelines Verstappen…

 

🏁 Devastating crash at Austrian GP sidelines Verstappe

 

At the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg on June 29, reigning champion Max Verstappen suffered a dramatic first-lap retirement after a heavy collision with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli at Turn 3 . Antonelli locked the rear brakes, lost control, and struck the side of Verstappen’s car, ending both drivers’ races on the spot.

 

Despite starting from P7, Verstappen was immediately eliminated from contention and was unable to score—ending a remarkable 31-race points streak dating back 462 days . Red Bull Racing team chief Helmut Marko called it a “black day” for the team’s championship hopes .

 

 

—

 

Verstappen fights poor pace and repeated bad luck

 

Beyond the incident itself, the Dutchman’s weekend had been marred by poor pace: qualifying was compromised by track yellow flags and Verstappen admitted it was an “unlucky” weekend overall . Following the crash he said:

 

> “Unlucky, I guess… No one does that on purpose.”

 

 

 

Red Bull’s principal Christian Horner echoed the sentiment, calling the weekend “a race to forget” and warning that the 2025 season now looks like a two-horse fight between McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris .

 

 

—

 

Antonelli penalized, Verstappen assesses next steps

 

The FIA stewards deemed Antonelli fully at fault, assigning a three-place grid penalty and two license points for Silverstone . In a brief apology on the spot, Antonelli said he felt “super sorry” and accepted responsibility .

 

Verstappen, meanwhile, has turned his attention to recovery and regrouping. Interviews revealed he spent little time in the garage—and even caught the 24 Hours of Spa instead . He acknowledged that setbacks happen but emphasized his focus on learning and bouncing back.

 

 

—

 

Health implications and long-term effects

 

While there are no reports of serious injury following this crash, Verstappen has disclosed in the past lingering vision issues from a 51 g collision with Lewis Hamilton at Silverstone in 2021 . He described persistent difficulty with visibility on certain tracks ever since. However, there’s no indication this weekend’s crash has worsened those conditions—Verstappen appears fully fit.

 

 

—

 

Championship standings shaken

 

Today’s retirement deals a heavy blow: Verstappen now trails Piastri by a massive 61 points in the standings, with only 13 races remaining . McLaren dominated Austria with a clean 1–2 finish—Norris first, Piastri second—solidifying their grip at the front .

 

Red Bull must now approach the remaining season by targeting individual race wins rather than defending a fading title challenge .

 

 

—

 

🔍 What’s next?

 

Silverstone GP (British GP): Antonelli starts three places down; Verstappen and Red Bull aim to reset.

 

Verstappen’s health remains a topic: no current concerns from Austria, but past vision issues may influence how he manages future impacts.

 

Championship outlook: With McLaren surging, Red Bull must improve upgrades and regain form—Verstappen, as lead driver, is pivotal.

 

 

 

—

 

TL;DR Summary

Crash Lap 1 collision with Antonelli at Austria — forced retirement.

Penalty Antonelli gets 3-place grid drop and 2 Super License points.

Championship Verstappen trails Piastri by 61 points; title hopes severely dented.

Health No new injuries, but past vision issues persist since 2021.

Outlook Red Bull shifts strategy — focus on next races, especially Silverstone.