Max Verstappen crashes out in stunning Austrian GP upset

Max Verstappen was dramatically eliminated from the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix in a first-lap crash, dealing a severe blow to his championship ambitions.

🏁 What happened

On June 29, 2025, following a delayed start due to Carlos Sainz’s Williams stalling and catching fire during the formation lap, the race finally began around 15:15 local time.


On the opening lap at Turn 3, Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli locked his brakes and collided with the rear of Verstappen’s Red Bull. Both cars were eliminated instantly.

The crash also ended Verstappen’s impressive 31‑race points-scoring streak—his first non-finish since the 2024 Australian GP.

Aftermath & Consequences

Verstappen labelled the incident “unlucky” and considered it a racing incident, saying, “no one does these things on purpose” and that Antonelli is a “very big talent”.

Stewards ruled Antonelli fully at fault: he received a three‑place grid drop and two penalty points for the upcoming British GP at Silverstone.

Post-race, Verstappen was already 61 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri and 46 behind Lando Norris, making his title defense much steeper.

How the Race Finished

Despite the chaos, Lando Norris secured the victory, followed by teammate Oscar Piastri—granting McLaren a dominant 1–2 finish.

Charles Leclerc completed the podium in third for Ferrari .

Verstappen’s Championships Hopes

This marked Verstappen’s first retirement in 462 days and severely hurt his title chase.

With two McLaren drivers ahead, Verstappen now faces an uphill climb to reclaim top spot in the standings.

Quick Recap

Detail

Summary

Incident

Turn‑3 crash by Antonelli, first-lap

Penalty

Antonelli penalized for Silverstone (3‑place drop + 2 points)

Verstappen’s status

First DNF since 2024 Australia – points streak ended

McLaren’s haul

Norris first, Piastri second; Leclerc third

This was a shocking turn of events, especially with the race held at Red Bull’s home venue, where Verstappen had been dominant in recent years. The consequences are likely to ripple into the next races, affecting both Verstappen’s title hopes and Antonelli’s rookie campaign.