The Grand Prix of Austria of 2025, which was held on the Red Bull Ring on June 29, was characterized by a spectacular incident in the first round in which two big names were involved in Formula 1: four-time world champion Max Verstappen and Mercedes-debutant Kimi Antonelli. The collision, which meant an early end to the race for both drivers, led to heated discussions, in particular because of the punishment that the International Automobile Federation (FIA) Antonelli had imposed. Max Verstappen, known for his pronounced opinion, did not hide his dissatisfaction about what he found too mild punishment. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem responded decisively and abruptly put an end to the discussion.

The incident took place in bend 3, a tight technical bend on the Austrian circuit. Kimi Antonelli, who had started from the ninth position, tried to maintain his position on the starting grid. However, by leaving late to prevent a collision with Liam Lawsons Racing Bulls, he blocked his rear wheels and lost control of his Mercedes. His car then hit the back of Verstappens Red Bull when the bend ends. The damage caused by the collision forced both drivers to drop out, with which their hope for points in a crucial race in the championship. Verstappen, at the time third in the drivers’ classification, saw his backlog of leader Oscar Piastri rise to 61 points, a big blow for his chance of a fifth world title.

After the incident, the FIA ​​stewards viewed the images and Antonelli called for a hearing. The verdict, which was pronounced later that day, imposed a grid penalty of three places for the next Grand Prix on Silverstone, as well as two penalty points on his super license. Although Antonelli recognized his mistake and publicly apologized to Verstappen and his team, the sanction immediately aroused anger among the Dutchman. In an interview with Canal+, Verstappen expressed his dissatisfaction and called the decision of the FIA ​​”too light” and “unfair” given the consequences of the accident. “I missed a chance to score important points and he gets away with a punishment of three places? Ridiculous!” He said visibly frustrated. He also emphasized that, although he did not cherish a personal resentment against Antonelli, the FIA ​​should impose stricter punishments to prevent similar incidents from occurring again.

Such sharp criticism soon provoked a response from FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. During a press conference the next day, he defended the decision of the stewards and stated that the punishment was in proportion to the mistake made. “The stewards have viewed the incident from all corners. Antonelli is a young driver in his first season, and he has recognized his mistake. The punishment is justified and in line with the regulations,” he said. He then responded directly to Verstappen’s remarks and added: “Drivers must concentrate on their driving behavior and not criticizing the referees’ decisions. If everyone questions the rules, where do we go?” That destructive reaction seemed to put an end to the debate, in which Verstappen chose not to escalate and prefer to concentrate on the next race.

This conflict between Verstappen and the FIA ​​is reminiscent of earlier tensions between the Dutch driver and the Sportbond. In September 2024, Verstappen already made the headlines when he protested during a press conference against a sanction for vulgar comments, and even partially a press conference Boycotte. This time he expressed his dissatisfaction, but he opted for a more moderate approach, perhaps in the realization that the extension of the confrontation could be expensive to be. The only 18-year-old Antonelli tried to turn the page and said, “It was a big mistake on my part, but I have to learn and continue it.”

The incident has also revived the discussion within the Paddock about the honesty of Formula 1 penalty. Some drivers, such as Lando Norris, supported Verstappen and found that the FIA ​​sometimes makes inconsistent decisions. However, others were happy with the Clementia towards Antonelli and argued that a young driver should not be punished too heavily for a racing error. This controversy, which has not been resolved for a long time, promises to stimulate the discussion during the next Grand Prix of Great Britain, where all eyes will be aimed at Verstappen and Antonelli. For the Dutchman, the challenge is two -fold: sporty recovery and at the same time avoiding further conflicts with the FIA.