The Formula 1 world is upside down after a controversial decision during the Grand Prix of Austria on 29 June 2025. Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion and public favorite, was disqualified after a collision with the young Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli. The incident, which took place during the race on the Red Bull Ring Circuit, led to a wave of indignation among fans, who labeled the FIA’s decision as unfair and exaggerated.
The race already started with challenges for Verstappen, who managed to get only a seventh place during qualifying on Saturday. His Red Bull RB21 was struggling with grip problems, and Verstappen described the car as “unmanageable” after a qualifying session in which a yellow flag, caused by a spider from Pierre Gasly, ruined its last fast round. Despite this setback, expectations were high for the race, especially because the circuit is the property of Red Bull, the team for which Verstappen is driving. Fans hoped that Verstappen would show his usual magic and fight forward.
The incident that led to Verstappens disqualification took place in a crucial phase of the race. Kimi Antonelli, the 18-year-old Rookie who made an impression in his debut season at Mercedes, hit Verstappen from behind in an attempt to catch up. The collision caused damage to Verstappens car, so that he could not race any further. The FIA ruled that Antonelli was responsible for the collision, but to be astonishment of many, Verstappen was disqualified, possibly due to a violation of the rules regarding ignoring a flag or another technical infringement during the incident. The exact reason for the disqualification remains unclear, what has only increased frustration among fans.
Spectators and followers on social media have expressed their anger en masse. Many fans point out that Antonelli, who was previously fined € 100 in the weekend for exceeding the pit lanes speed with 0.1 km/h, traded recklessly. “How can Verstappen be punished for the wrong driving behavior of someone else?” Written a fan on X. Another added: “The FIA destroys the sport with this kind of decisions. Max deserves better!” The support for Verstappen is not surprising, given its popularity and his dominant performances in previous seasons.
For Antonelli, the weekend in Austria was already turbulent. During the second free practice on Friday, he had a nearly collision with Lewis Hamilton, who received a warning for hindering the young driver. In addition, miscommunication in the Pitlane Antonelli cost a better starting position in qualifying, where he finished ninth. Despite these setbacks, Antonelli managed to work forward in the race, which led to the fatal moment with Verstappen. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff acknowledged that the team had made mistakes, but defended Antonelli’s ambitious driving style as part of his learning curve as Rookie.
The disqualification of Verstappen also has consequences for the championship. With Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri van McLaren who finished first and third respectively in qualifying, they have a chance to increase their lead in the rankings. Verstappen, who is already struggling with a less competitive Red Bull this season, sees his title chances shrink further. His frustration was felt after the qualification, where he spoke of an “incomprehensible” decline in performance, possibly due to the high job temperatures of 47 ° C that did not improve the Red Bull setup.
The absence of Verstappen’s regular racing engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, due to personal circumstances, was also mentioned as a possible factor in Red Bulls disappointing weekend. Simon Rennie, who temporarily entered, was unable to fully replicate the chemistry with Verstappen, which possibly contributed to the strategic and performance shortages.
While the Formula 1 caravan is preparing for the next race in Silverstone, the controversy around Verstappens disqualification lingers. Fans demand clarity from the FIA, and the call for fairer and more consistent punishment is growing. For Verstappen this is a bitter pill, but his determination and fighting spirit will undoubtedly motivate him to come back stronger. The question remains: can he overcome the setbacks and breathe new life into his title race?
