Max Verstappen has retired from the opening lap of the Austrian Grand Prix after being wiped out by Kimi Antonelli.
Antonelli was attempting to make up immediate ground with a late divebomb into Turn 3 but the Mercedes driver locked up and could not slow down, before tagging Verstappen’s Red Bull.
The contact sent both drivers spinning off into the run-off area and a first-lap retirement.
“I’m out. I got hit like crazy. Idiots,” Verstappen bemoaned over team radio.
The DNF marks a huge blow to Verstappen’s hopes of winning a fifth consecutive world title.
The Dutchman was already 43 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri coming into the 11th round of the season at the Red Bull Ring.