Max Verstappen shows true colours to Kimi Antonelli after Austrian Grand Prix crash

Max Verstappen took a classy approach to his crash with Kimi Antonelli at the Austrian Grand Prix, forgiving the teenager for the heavy opening lap shunt and writing it off as a learning incident for the rookie. Verstappen enjoyed an excellent initial start, overtaking sixth-placed Liam Lawson at the opening corner before challenging George Russell and Lewis Hamilton ahead on the run to Turn Three. Unfortunately for the Dutchman, he wouldn't get the chance to battle the duo and close the gap to his title rivals at McLaren.

Antonelli, who started from P9, suffered a huge rear lock-up on the long run to Turn Three. After taking avoiding action to miss Lawson and Gabriel Bortoleto ahead, the Italian was set on a collision course with Verstappen. The Mercedes car ploughed into the rear right side of the RB21, bringing the four-time world champion's race to a premature end.

Initially, Verstappen expressed his immense frustrations on the radio. "I'm out," he fumed. "I got hit like crazy. F***, idiots." However, after climbing out of his stricken car and chatting with Antonelli, he took a more lenient view of the shunt.

"I'm not angry at Kimi or whatever," Verstappen said. He's a great guy, very talented, I'm friends with him, so he also immediately apologised. Every driver in the paddock has made these kind of mistakes. By making these, you also learn from them, so from my side, it's all good."

The reigning world champion also offered an insight into the conversation he had with Antonelli on the track. "I just asked what happened, because he was the only car that was there with me, with this wheel hanging off," he explained.

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"So I was like, 'I'm pretty sure that he hit me'. And yeah, then, of course, I saw the footage once I came back [to the garage], and it happens. Every driver has made a mistake like that in their career, and also, Kimi is a very big talent, so he learns from that, and that's all fine."

Unfortunately for Verstappen, the incident has left his faint World Championship hopes hanging by a thread. Lando Norris converted his pole position into victory with team-mate and series leader Oscar Piastri behind him. The gap to third-placed Charles Leclerc was over a full pit stop.

This means that, heading into Norris' home race at Silverstone next weekend, Verstappen trails the lead of the Drivers' Championship standings by 61 points, while his British rival is only 15 points back from team-mate Piastri at the top.