An incident far from the racetrack unexpectedly drew attention to Formula 1 ahead of the new season. 

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, one of the sport’s most promising young drivers and a key figure for Mercedes, was involved in a crash with a high-end sports car in San Marino early Sunday morning.

The Italian driver emerged unhurt, but the accident quickly became a major talking point.

Mercedes confirmed that the crash occurred near Antonelli’s residence and involved only his personal vehicle, an exclusive AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+ Motorsport Collectors Edition. The team stated that Antonelli suffered no injuries and personally contacted the authorities after the incident.

According to local media reports, the accident unfolded over a stretch of roughly 144 meters, suggesting the car was traveling at significant speed. 

Police reconstruction indicates that the vehicle struck a traffic post, bounced toward the center of the road, hit the guardrail twice and finally collided with a retaining wall.

The crash took place near the Serravalle area, close to a highway junction leading toward the city of San Marino. While the civil police continue to investigate the precise causes, no other vehicles were involved. 

The identity of the driver at the exact moment of impact has not been officially confirmed, though the emergency call came from Antonelli himself.

The story gained traction due to Antonelli’s growing profile within Formula 1. Widely regarded as one of the brightest talents of his generation, he has become a central part of Mercedes’ long-term plans. 

The car itself also drew attention. Delivered to Antonelli earlier this month, the limited-edition AMG GT 63 features a Petronas-inspired livery, advanced aerodynamics and a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 612 horsepower. Its estimated value exceeds €200,000.

Just days earlier, Antonelli had completed the shakedown of the Mercedes W17 in Barcelona alongside George Russell, expressing optimism about the car’s reliability ahead of pre-season testing in Bahrain. 

Mercedes confirmed that the crash will not affect Antonelli’s preparation, and he is expected to be on track as scheduled before the season opener in Australia.