Antonelli qualifying participation in doubt after violent crash

Mercedes is in a race against time to fix Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s destroyed car in time to take part in Australian Grand Prix qualifying.

Antonelli suffered a huge crash at Turn 2 as he got on the power exiting the left-hander. Taking more exit kerb than his previous laps, Antonelli was sent into heavy collision with the right-hand barrier.

A second impact followed as Antonelli’s W17 slammed into the wall on the left-hand side.

Thankfully, Antonelli was unhurt in the violent accident which did require the medical car to deployed. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff told Sky Germany that the crash had been measured at 17G.

The 19-year-old Italian was able to walk back to the Mercedes garage unassisted under the resulting red flag period.

Antonelli’s Mercedes has suffered significant damage that has put his participation in qualifying in Melbourne in huge doubt.

Mercedes will likely only know whether Antonelli can take part in qualifying towards the end of Q1, meaning it will be a tight call.

The crash has required Mercedes to change the gearbox and rear-end on Antonelli’s car, as well other damaged parts that need replacing.

Not helping Mercedes’ quest is the fact it lost 20 minutes due to the start of final practice being delayed at Albert Park.

Antonelli’s Mercedes team-mate and early 2026 title favourite George Russell set an ominous pace as he topped FP3.

Russell was more than six tenths clear than the Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton.