Antonelli uninjured in pre-test crash, Bahrain schedule unchanged

Mercedes junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli was involved in a single-car road accident near his home in San Marino last Saturday but emerged completely unharmed. The incident will not affect his scheduled running in the upcoming Formula 1 pre-season test in Bahrain, where he is set for significant mileage in the Mercedes W17.

Why it matters:

For a 17-year-old driver on the cusp of his first major F1 test with a top team, any incident—especially one involving a rare and valuable company car—draws intense scrutiny. Antonelli's wellbeing and uninterrupted preparation are paramount as Mercedes evaluates his potential for a future race seat, making this non-impact on his schedule a critical relief for the team's development plans.

The details:

• The accident occurred in Serravalle, with Antonelli's car impacting a guardrail. Local police confirmed no other vehicles were involved.
• Mercedes issued a statement confirming Antonelli was "completely unharmed" and that he himself alerted the authorities.
• The car involved was a highly exclusive Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+ “Motorsport Collectors Edition”, one of only 200 units produced.
  • The vehicle, delivered to Antonelli just last month, features a unique hand-painted Petronas-themed livery and performance enhancements including a specialized aerodynamic package and a 4.0-liter V8 engine.

What's next:

Antonelli's on-track program proceeds as planned. He is scheduled to drive the Mercedes W15 during the afternoon session on Wednesday, the morning session on Thursday, and again in the afternoon on Friday at the Bahrain International Circuit. George Russell will handle the corresponding alternate sessions. The first pre-season test begins tomorrow, setting the stage for Antonelli's most significant F1 running to date.