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Mercedes F1 driver Kimi Antonelli walked away completely unharmed from a significant road accident in San Marino on Saturday night, just days before his scheduled appearance at the Bahrain pre-season test. The incident, which occurred near his home in Serravalle, involved Antonelli's newly acquired Mercedes AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+ "Motorsport Collectors Edition" and required police intervention—though the driver's participation in this week's testing programme remains entirely unaffected.
The accident unfolded on the night between February 7th and 8th along the San Marino Superstrada in Serravalle. According to local civil police reports, Antonelli's high-performance Mercedes lost control on the ascending lane near the intersection with Via Ranco, resulting in a dramatic sequence of impacts.
The vehicle first struck a traffic light pole on the right shoulder of the roadway before continuing into the guardrail, which it hit twice. The force of these collisions threw the car back into the right lane, where it subsequently struck a retaining wall. The accident extended approximately 144 meters across the roadway—an indication of the severity of the incident.
Crucially, light traffic conditions at the time helped contain the consequences. Antonelli, demonstrating composure following the crash, called the police to the scene himself. Mercedes swiftly issued an official statement confirming the incident: "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."
The vehicle involved in the accident was no ordinary Mercedes supercar. Antonelli had recently unveiled his new "company car" on social media—a Mercedes AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+ "Motorsport Collectors Edition," one of only 200 produced worldwide. The exclusive machine carries a reported price tag of £239,405 and features bespoke detailing that reflects Antonelli's status as a rising star in motorsport.
The supercar had been delivered to Antonelli just before last month's Barcelona test and boasts notable technical specifications. Hand-painted bodywork with a Petronas livery adorns the vehicle's exterior, while its aerodynamic setup features reduced lift and an enhanced cooling system optimized for performance. Beneath the bonnet sits a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine capable of producing 612 horsepower.
Despite the dramatic circumstances, Mercedes has confirmed that Antonelli's participation in the Bahrain pre-season testing will proceed as planned. The 19-year-old Italian is scheduled for a full three-day programme beginning Wednesday, February 12th, replacing George Russell in three sessions: the afternoon of the opening day, the morning of the second day, and the afternoon of the final day.
This testing programme represents a critical opportunity for Antonelli as he prepares for what is expected to be a competitive 2026 season, where new technical regulations are reshaping the competitive landscape and creating fresh opportunities for younger drivers to prove themselves at the pinnacle of motorsport.
The incident underscores the unpredictability of life outside the cockpit and serves as a reminder that professional racing drivers navigate risks both on and off the circuit. For Antonelli, however, the situation has been resolved positively—he emerged unscathed, his testing commitments remain intact, and Mercedes can focus entirely on their preparation for the 2026 campaign.
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.