F1 News: Leclerc Furious After Rookie Antonelli Ends Dutch GP Hopes
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (pictured) was left seething after Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli punted him out of the Dutch Grand Prix on Lap 53, ending a miserable weekend for the Maranello marque.
The clash came at a time when Formula 1 continues to be a major draw for fans and gamblers alike, with betting markets now increasingly tied to new digital platforms such as bitcoin casinos. These changes have reshaped how wagers are placed in 2025, adding another layer of unpredictability to a season already full of shocks on the track.
McLaren star Oscar Piastri had been cruising to a comfortable victory when the race took a dramatic turn at Zandvoort’s banked Turn 3. As Leclerc exited the pits on fresh tires, Antonelli on already warm tires saw his chance and dove down the inside in an overambitious bid for fifth place.
The 19‑year‑old understeered up the banking and into the rear of the Ferrari, spinning it into the barriers and forcing Leclerc into retirement. Antonelli limped back to the pits with a puncture, while the resulting debris brought out the Safety Car.
Stewards deemed the Mercedes driver fully at fault and issued a 10‑second penalty for causing the collision; he later picked up another 5-second sanction for pitlane speeding.
“It is a mistake from Kimi,” a frustrated Leclerc told reporters. “You have to be aggressive to overtake on a track like this, but he touched my rear left, and it was the end of my race. I wouldn’t describe it as a rookie mistake; it could happen in the first year or the fifth.”
Earlier, the 27‑year‑old had criticised Ferrari’s pace through practice and qualifying, saying he had “been very poor… chasing something that maybe wasn’t in the car”.
After the crash, he insisted strategy was not to blame: “The team decided to pit me because they thought [Antonelli] would get past… It was his mistake that threw our efforts into the bin.”
Antonelli apologized for the clash. “I went for it… too much,” he admitted later. Ferrari advisor Jacques Villeneuve was less forgiving, labeling the move “a rookie error” reminiscent of junior series misjudgements. The penalties have also saddled Antonelli with points on his license, a headache he could do without in his maiden campaign.
The stewards summoned both drivers for the Lap 53 incident and for an earlier brush between Leclerc and George Russell, but Leclerc defended his aggression: “We are fighting for the constructors’ championship.”
Ferrari’s nightmare was compounded when Lewis Hamilton also crashed at the same corner under light rain, recording a rare double DNF. The seven‑time champion, his reflexes slowing with age, later admitted he was caught out by a snap of oversteer.
It means Ferrari heads to Monza without a podium this season and with their home hero still waiting for his first top‑three finish for the Scuderia.
Meanwhile, Piastri kept his cool to record his seventh win of the season and extend his championship lead. The Australian now enjoys a buffer of more than a race win after teammate Lando Norris, who suffered an engine oil leak.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen salvaged second to maintain his perfect home‑podium record, while Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar claimed his maiden top‑three finish.
Leclerc, the defending Monza winner, is desperate to make amends. “We cannot afford another Friday like Zandvoort,” he said. “This track has everything our car hates. Monza should suit us better, but whether we can target a win, I don’t think so… but never say never.”
With McLaren flying, Ferrari’s hopes rest on avoiding mistakes and harnessing the Tifosi’s energy. As the championship heads to the final European round, the Scuderia must turn frustration into performance to keep its season alive.