Team Confirms Young Star Safe as Single-Car Accident Causes Major Vehicle Damage in San Marino
Mercedes Formula 1 prospect Kimi Antonelli was involved in a road accident over the weekend, just days before the start of pre-season testing in Bahrain, but the team has confirmed that the young driver escaped without injury.
The incident occurred near Antonelli’s new home in San Marino late on Saturday night into the early hours of Sunday morning. Local authorities responded after being alerted by Antonelli himself, and civil police later released details of the crash. While officials did not initially disclose the identity of the driver, Mercedes soon issued a public statement confirming that their junior F1 star was the person involved.
Mercedes moved quickly to reassure supporters and the wider F1 community, stating that Antonelli was completely unharmed in the accident. The team also confirmed that no other vehicles were involved and no third parties were injured. Although the car sustained heavy damage, Antonelli walked away safely from the scene.
According to the civil police report, the crash took place along a highway section in Serravalle, near the intersection with Via Ranco. Antonelli was traveling in the ascending lane when he lost control of the vehicle under light traffic conditions. The car first collided with a traffic light pole positioned on the right-hand side of the road. After the initial impact, it continued forward and struck a guardrail twice before being thrown across the roadway and eventually crashing into a retaining wall. Authorities estimated that the total crash path covered approximately 144 meters.
Officials noted that the late-night timing of the incident helped limit the potential consequences. With minimal traffic on the road, the risk to other motorists was reduced and the damage was contained to roadside structures and the vehicle itself.
Antonelli was reportedly driving a Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+ “Motorsport Collectors Edition” at the time of the accident. The high-performance model — valued at roughly £239,000 — had recently been showcased by Antonelli on social media as his new company car. The limited-edition vehicle is one of Mercedes’ most powerful road cars, inspired by the brand’s motorsport technology and performance heritage.
Despite the dramatic nature of the crash, Antonelli’s planned participation in this week’s Bahrain pre-season testing is not expected to be affected. Mercedes indicated that he remains fit and ready for track duties, with no injuries reported and no medical concerns raised following the incident.
The Bahrain test is a crucial event on the Formula 1 calendar, giving teams and drivers valuable time to gather data, evaluate performance, and build familiarity with their machinery ahead of the new season. For Antonelli, it represents another important step in his rapid progression within the Mercedes program and his transition toward top-level F1 responsibilities.
Widely regarded as one of the sport’s most promising young talents, Antonelli has been under close watch as he prepares for a bigger role at the highest level of single-seater racing. Incidents like this inevitably draw attention, but Mercedes’ swift clarification has helped settle concerns.
With confirmation that he is safe and cleared to continue preparations, the focus now returns to Bahrain, where Antonelli is set to continue his build-up to the upcoming Formula 1 campaign.
