Mercedes young gun Kimi Antonelli had an unexpectedly dramatic warm-up to this week’s pre-season test in Bahrain — and it didn’t happen anywhere near a racetrack.
The Italian was involved in a road accident on Saturday evening in Serravalle, just a day before joining his Mercedes team at Sakhir. While the narrative initially carried an air of dread, the outcome was mercifully benign for the driver, if not for the machinery.
Antonelli walked away completely unharmed.
A Rare Beast Meets a Guardrail
Antonelli wasn't just driving any Mercedes; he was behind the wheel of a Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+ "Motorsport Collectors Edition."
For those not fluent in supercar-speak, this is a 612hp, V8-powered masterpiece with a hand-painted Petronas livery, of which only 200 exist globally. It’s essentially a land-bound rocket ship that Mercedes had proudly delivered to their rising star only weeks ago.
While the "Motorsport Collectors Edition" is designed with enhanced cooling and reduced lift, it appears even the most advanced aerodynamics are no match for the stubborn physics of an Italian guardrail. Fortunately, Kimi proved to have better "safety systems" than the car's bodywork.
Mercedes was quick to address the anxiety surrounding their future star, releasing an official statement to clear the air:
“Last Saturday evening, near his home in San Marino, Kimi was involved in a road accident. The police attended the scene after being called by Kimi. His was the only car involved and, although the vehicle sustained damage, Kimi was completely unharmed.”
Business as Usual in Bahrain
Despite the carbon-fiber carnage, it’s all systems go for this week’s pre-season test for the Mercedes charger.
The schedule remains untouched: Kimi is set to strap into the new Mercedes W17 on Wednesday afternoon for the opening session, followed by turns on Thursday morning and Friday afternoon. His teammate, George Russell, will handle the alternating slots.
While the insurance adjusters in San Marino likely endured a very busy Monday, Mercedes fans can breathe a sigh of relief.
The only "impact" the team is now looking for is the one Antonelli makes on the timing screens when the first official test begins tomorrow. After all, hitting a guardrail at low speed in a road car is one thing – hitting the apex at 200 mph in the W17 is where the real work begins.
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