Fans think Max Verstappen has decided on his F1 future as damning team radio message emerges after Austrian GP crash.
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen branded Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli a ‘f—— idiot’ after the latter locked up at the Austrian Grand Prix, which led to them both crashing out.
Verstappen was forced to retire on lap 1 in Austria after being hit by Kimi Antonelli.
Fans think Max Verstappen has already made his mind up over his future in Formula 1 after what he said on team radio following his lap one crash at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Verstappen was forced to retire just two corners into the race after being hit from behind by Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli.
Antonelli locked up his brakes and overshot the hairpin, hitting Verstappen’s right rear tyre and causing both drivers to retire from the race.
It is the first time that the Dutchman has failed to finish a Grand Prix in the 2025 season, with this being the first time in 31 races that he has not scored any points.
Verstappen was not happy over team radio, telling race engineer Simon Rennie: “I’m out. I got hit like crazy. F***ing idiots.”
Antonelli, meanwhile, apologised to his engineer Peter Bonnington for his error, and admitted that his rear brakes had locked up.
But it was the tone of Verstappen’s message that concerned fans.
The Dutchman was particularly downbeat after qualifying, with a yellow flag due to a mistake from Pierre Gasly meaning that he had to back off and start the race in P7.
And just days after Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff confirmed that he had held talks with the Red Bull driver’s camp over a potential drive for 2026, fans think Verstappen may have already decided which team he wants to drive for.
One wrote: “I’ve never heard Verstappen more resigned. Even his team radio saying ‘f***ing idiots’ was devoid of the usual anger and passion.”
A second agreed: “This calmness from Verstappen is not common, I think his departure from Red Bull is near.”
The reigning four-time champion has not yet commented on his future, with his contract at Red Bull running until 2028.
However, it’s still unclear whether stepping away would be any easier for him — especially with his chances of securing a fifth straight Drivers’ Championship looking slimmer. He began the weekend trailing Oscar Piastri by 43 points, with just two wins from his first 10 races.
