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- F1 champ Max Verstappen says his 'mentality doesn't change' after a big blow to his title defense</p>
<p>JAMES ELLINGWORTHJune 30, 2025 at 2:05 AM</p>
<p>Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands stands at the starting grd before the Austrian Formula One Grand Prix in Spielberg, Austria, Sunday, June 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos, Pool) ()</p>
<p>After days of speculation he might leave Red Bull for Mercedes, Max Verstappen got a closer look at a Mercedes car than he wanted.</p>
<p>The defending Formula 1 champion's Austrian Grand Prix lasted less than half a lap as he was knocked out of the race by Mercedes driver and potential future teammate Kimi Antonelli.</p>
<p>"I think we try to do our best always. My mentality doesn't change. We have won a lot in the past. Sometimes you have to accept that you are not winning, and we just try to do the best we can," Verstappen told British broadcaster Sky Sports.</p>
<p>Asked about what the incident meant for his title defense, he said: "Hopefully then maybe people will not mention it too much any more."</p>
<p>It followed an eventful week for the four-time champion, who blamed a lack of grip for being off the pace in qualifying and seventh on the grid. Antonelli's teammate George Russell had suggested Thursday Verstappen may be holding talks with Mercedes on a possible future move.</p>
<p>Verstappen remains third in the standings but is 61 points off leader Oscar Piastri.</p>
<p>In past years, Verstappen and Red Bull have produced some of their best performances at the team's home race. It attracts thousands of orange-clad Dutch fans and Verstappen has won at the Red Bull Ring five times.</p>
<p>It was a rare mistake in an otherwise impressive season for 18-year-old Antonelli.</p>
<p>He braked late, locked his rear wheels and dived deep into a tight right-hand corner, spinning Verstappen round and ending both of their chances.</p>
<p>"I'm out, I got hit like crazy," Verstappen told Red Bull over the radio. Verstappen waved to the crowd as his car was lifted away by a tractor and chatted with Antonelli as they walked away together.</p>
<p>It was the first time Verstappen failed to score any points in a race in more than a year, since the Australian Grand Prix in March 2024. It ended a week of struggles at a track where he's won five times in F1, and capped a disastrous home Grand Prix for Red Bull.</p>
<p>Rounding out a nightmare home race for Red Bull, Yuki Tsunoda hit Alpine's Franco Colapinto while fighting for 13th place and had to pit for a replacement front wing. The Japanese driver finished last and hasn't scored a point in four races.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>AP auto racing: https://ift.tt/UxQ6cN0>
Source: AOL Sports
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