Andrea Kimi Antonelli has addressed his opening lap crash with Max Verstappen at the Austrian Grand Prix.

The Mercedes driver locked his rear brakes at Turn 3 and collided with the side of the four-time Formula 1 champion. Both were forced to retire from the race as a result.

The Italian driver confirmed that it wasn't late braking, but rather locking up the rears that caused him to lose control.

"I didn’t necessarily brake too late, it’s just that when I braked, I braked hard because I was behind other cars, and in that moment I locked the rears," he explained to Sky Sports. "Then I just couldn’t stop the car.

"I locked the rear and then lost the car, and then had to avoid Lawson. Then it was too late because I was arriving just too quick. I started to lock the front and instead

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