Kimi Antonelli questions delayed double-yellow flags after Max Verstappen’s high-speed Austrian GP crash. Andrea Kimi Antonelli puzzled by FIA's handling of Max Verstappen's crash.

Antonelli: “I don’t understand why there wasn’t an immediate double yellow flag. It was a high-speed corner and it could have ended very badly”

A bitter disappointment for the Italian driver

The rear wing failure that caused Max Verstappen’s crash during the closing moments of Q3 only had a direct impact on Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who immediately lifted off the throttle after seeing the yellow flags displayed by the marshals.

Both Ferrari drivers had already completed their flying laps before Max Verstappen went off, while George Russell reduced his speed just enough to avoid having his lap time deleted.

Speaking to Sky, Andrea Kimi Antonelli initially described what happened as “all part of the learning experience,” but he later admitted that he could not understand the Race Control’s decision regarding the yellow flag procedure.

“There was a car in the wall at a high-speed corner, so I don’t understand why they didn’t immediately wave the double yellow flags, because it’s an extremely fast corner,” Andrea Kimi Antonelli said. “If someone goes off the track at that point, it could end very badly. I think the whole situation was a bit confusing.”