Max Verstappen was a first-lap casualty at the Austrian Grand Prix after a collision with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli. It came amid a chaotic start to racing at the Red Bull Ring, with Carlos Sainz having been ruled out before racing even got underway.

The Verstappen and Antonelli collision came heading into turn three, when the Silver Arrows ace hit the brakes too late, locked up and smashed into the side of Verstappen. It caused the formidable Dutch driver to spin off the track and condemned him to his first retirement of the season.

Understandably frustrated, Verstappen reacted on the team radio by saying: "I'm out, I got hit like crazy. ******* idiots." Antonelli, still in his first-ever Formula One season, was quick to apologise on his team radio, saying: “I’m sorry about that, I locked the rear.”

Commenting on the incident, Sky Sport pundit Karun Chandhok said: "Could you put it down as a rookie error [from Antonelli]? I'm not sure Max Verstappen will take that as any consolation," before suggesting the 18-year-old coiuld be at risk of a grid penalty at Silverstone next week.

It's a dagger in the heart of Verstappen's title hopes, with the Red Bull star having already trailed the McLaren duo heading into the Austrian Grand Prix. What's more, it also meant for the first time in 31 races, the four-in-a-row world champion finished outside of the points position.

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