Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli will take to the track on Wednesday for pre-season testing in Bahrain despite crashing an exclusive team supercar into a roadside retaining wall near his San Marino home at the weekend.
Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that an investigation has been opened after the vehicle suffered “extensive damage” in the Saturday night incident. The 19-year-old called police to the scene after his car struck the barrier, with authorities attending to document the single-vehicle collision.
Mercedes confirmed the Formula One driver emerged completely unharmed from the crash. “We can confirm that Kimi was involved in a traffic accident on Saturday night close to his home in San Marino,” the team stated. “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.”
The team emphasized Antonelli remains on schedule to participate in the next round of pre-season training beginning Wednesday in Bahrain. The confirmation indicates Mercedes has no concerns about his fitness or readiness following the weekend crash.
Antonelli, who replaced seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes after the British driver departed for Ferrari, passed his driving test in January last year shortly before the start of his rookie F1 season. The timing of his road licence acquisition and subsequent professional racing debut attracted attention given most drivers obtain standard licences before entering top-tier motorsport.
The Italian finished seventh in the drivers’ championship during his debut campaign behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Hamilton. His teammate George Russell secured fourth place behind world champion Lando Norris and title contenders Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri.
Mercedes finished second in the constructors’ championship last year despite winning just two races throughout the season. The team’s performance represented an improvement from previous years though fell short of their dominant period earlier in the turbo-hybrid era.
The crash investigation opened by Italian authorities will examine the circumstances of the collision and any potential contributing factors. Police reports typically assess speed, road conditions and vehicle condition when documenting single-vehicle incidents involving high-performance cars.
Antonelli’s participation in Bahrain testing will provide Mercedes with crucial data ahead of the competitive season. The pre-season sessions allow teams to evaluate car performance, test new developments and ensure drivers are comfortable with their machinery before the championship begins.
The young Italian faces pressure to perform in his second season driving for one of F1’s most successful teams. Mercedes’ decision to replace Hamilton with Antonelli represented a significant gamble on youth over experience, with the team expecting the teenager to develop into a championship contender.
Pre-season testing commences Wednesday with multiple days of running scheduled at the Bahrain International Circuit. Mercedes will monitor Antonelli’s performance closely as they prepare for the opening race of the season.
