Imagine being a rising star in Formula 1, just 19 years old, and facing a terrifying car crash just days before your first pre-season test. That’s exactly what happened to Kimi Antonelli, the Italian prodigy who’s already making waves in the racing world. But here’s where it gets even more surprising: despite the crash, Antonelli walked away completely unharmed, and he’s set to hit the track this week in Bahrain as if nothing happened.
The incident occurred on Saturday evening near his home in San Marino. Antonelli, driving a rare Mercedes AMG GT 63 PRO4MATIC+ “Motorsport Collectors Edition”—one of only 200 ever made—collided with a guardrail. And this is the part most people miss: no other vehicle was involved, making it a solo accident that could have been far worse. His Mercedes team quickly confirmed that while the car sustained damage, Kimi himself was unscathed.
“We can confirm that Kimi was involved in a traffic accident on Saturday night close to his home in San Marino,” a Mercedes spokesperson told Crash.net. “The police attended the scene after being called by Kimi. His was the only car involved, and while his vehicle was damaged, Kimi was completely unhurt.”
This close call won’t derail Antonelli’s plans for the upcoming Bahrain pre-season test, scheduled for February 11-13 at the Bahrain International Circuit. Mercedes has already announced that he’ll be behind the wheel of the W17 on the opening day, sharing driving duties with teammate George Russell. A second three-day test will follow in Bahrain from February 18-20, leading up to the season opener at the Australian Grand Prix on March 8.
Antonelli’s rookie F1 season was nothing short of impressive, finishing seventh in the drivers’ championship with three podium finishes and his first-ever pole position at the Miami sprint race. But here’s where it gets controversial: he finished just six points behind seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, the very driver he replaced at Mercedes. Is Antonelli the next big thing in F1, or is it too early to crown him?
As we gear up for another thrilling season, one thing’s for sure: Kimi Antonelli is a name you’ll want to remember. But what do you think? Can he challenge the veterans this year, or is he still finding his footing? Let us know in the comments—we’d love to hear your take!
