Mercedes boss Toto Wolff exercised leniency on Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s error in the Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix, admitting that “it can happen to the great” drivers.
Antonelli wrecked both his and Max Verstappen’s afternoon almost immediately when the Italian collided with the Red Bull at Turn 3 on the opening lap in Spielberg.
The rookie came from a long way back to lunge up the inside of Liam Lawson’s Racing Bulls and Gabriel Bortoleto’s Sauber, but punted off Verstappen, breaking the Mercedes’ front-left suspension.
Antonelli admitted it was a “big mistake”, but Verstappen appeared nonplussed by the incident, saying every day “has made a mistake like that”.
When asked about the incident after the race, in which George Russell managed to finish fifth, Wolff told media including Motorsport Week: “These mistakes happen.
“The rears locked on the car. I’m not entirely sure if it was his fault or a system, I didn’t look through the data nor did I hear because we were concentrating on the race but that happens.
“It’s unfortunate – unfortunate for Max and Red Bull that Kimi hit him. But it’s racing.”
Wolff pleased with ‘no big animosity’ from Verstappen
Wolff revealed that Antonelli immediately owned up to the crash upon returning to the Mercedes garage.
The Austrian reasoned that such mistakes can be made by anyone, including more experienced drivers.
“He came into the garage quickly and I said ‘well that wasn’t great’, which he obviously knew,” he said.
“But he said the tyres just locked and we need to analyse that. But again, there’s margin for error in our business.
“It’s a shame that we took another car out with us, but that can happen. It can happen to the great ones, to the inexperienced ones, to the experienced ones. It’s just part of Formula 1.”
Wolff was then asked for his view on Verstappen’s level-headed response to the collision that put him a further chunk of points behind in the Drivers’ Championship battle.
“These guys are kart kids, there is a similar trajectory,” he responded.
“As a race driver you know that can happen, it happens to everyone and I think this is why there was no big animosity I guess.”
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