P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen has leapt to the defence of Kimi Antonelli after the pair collided during the F1 Austrian Grand Prix, insisting that “every driver makes mistakes” as he backed the Mercedes rookie to bounce back.
Max Verstappen defended Kimi Antonelli after their collision at the Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix, recognizing that mistakes happen and vouching for Antonelli’s talent.
Antonelli’s error on Lap 1 led to both drivers retiring early from the race after their cars collided at Turn 3.
Verstappen, initially frustrated, later empathized with Antonelli, highlighting that every driver makes mistakes and that Antonelli is a promising talent who can learn from this experience.
The Dutch driver appreciated Antonelli’s approach after the incident, viewing it as a positive gesture even though he had already moved past the incident.
Despite defending Antonelli, Verstappen acknowledged that it had been a tough weekend for Red Bull, with struggles in performance throughout the race at the Red Bull Ring.
Verstappen’s streak of 31 consecutive races finishing with points ended with the retirement at the Austrian GP, while Antonelli has faced challenges with multiple technical retirements in recent races.
