Austrian GP: Max Verstappen taken out by Kimi Antonelli on first lap

Max Verstappen has said being taken out by Kimi Antonelli at the Austrian Grand Prix was "unlucky" but hopes it means he is not considered to be in the title race anymore.

Verstappen was taken out of Red Bull's home race on Sunday after the Mercedes rookie crashed into his car at Turn 3 on the opening lap. Antonelli has been handed a three-place grid penalty for next weekends British GP for the incident.

After starting the race 43 points off championship leader Oscar Piastri, the retirement delivered a significant blow to Verstappen's already threadbare chances of retaining his title this year. With Piastri finishing second, the gap has grown to 61 points.

"It's just unlucky, like yesterday in qualifying," Verstappen said. "But overall, we didn't really have that great pace anyway this weekend, so a lot of learning for us how we can hopefully do better next weekend. But of course, not an ideal result today.

"It happens, you know, I mean, every driver has made a mistake like that.

"Everyone has made a mistake like that in their careers. Kimi is a very big talent. He wants to win, you know, and that's all fine. No one does these things on purpose."

On how the result impacts his title chances, Verstappen added: "Hopefully then people will not mention it too much anymore."

Verstappen, who qualified seventh, gained a place on Liam Lawson at Turn 1 and was positioning his Red Bull to attack the cars in front when he was wiped out by Antonelli.

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"I'm out, I got hit ... F---ing idiots," Verstappen said over team radio.

Antonelli was looking to find a way past Lawson and Gabriel Bortoleto for sixth place when he locked up his brakes and lunged to the inside of the corner.

Unable to get his car slowed down in time, the Mercedes rookie sailed past the apex and collected Verstappen.

The two cars ended up in the run-off area of Turn 3 where they both retired from the race.

"Sorry about that. I locked the rear, sorry," Antonelli said over team radio. He repeated his apology later.

"I didn't necessarily brake too late," he said in the media pen. "But when I did I broke hard and in that moment I locked the rears and I just couldn't turn the car. It was too late because I was arriving too quick. The crash was inevitable. I just feel super sorry to the team, and to Max of course."