Formula 1 Australian GP
Kimi Antonelli suffers violent 17G crash in Australian GP final practice
Andrea Kimi Antonelli crashed heavily in final practice for the Australian Grand Prix, leaving Mercedes in a race against time to repair the car before qualifying
Lydia Mee Stuart Codling
Edited: Mar 7, 2026, 5:36 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes crash
Photo by: Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli crashed during the third practice session ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.
With just over 10 minutes remaining in the final practice session at Albert Park, the Italian driver crashed into the barrier at high speed after switching onto soft tyres. Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff confirmed to Sky Germany that the intensity of the crash measured at 17G.
Thankfully, he was able to exit the car unassisted and walked away from the wreck, but the Mercedes team now faces the challenge of repairing the car for use in qualifying later today.
Replays showed that Antonelli clipped the kerb at Turn 2 before losing control of the rear of the W17.
Former Formula 1 driver and co-commentator for Sky Sports Martin Brundle argued that the Brackley outfit will not be able to get the car ready for qualifying, which is scheduled for 4pm local time (5am GMT). "He'll not be in qualifying," Brundle said.
While speaking to the media in Melbourne, Antonelli addressed the high expectations for Mercedes in 2026.
"Well, I really hope I will be in that position and definitely I'm going to try to make it happen," he said. "But obviously it's a new year, new regulations again, another new year, new car and junior series has been really helpful on that because obviously every year I've been jumping in a new car and it helps a bit with adaptation.
"But I think I see this year as a big opportunity for myself, for the team because it also looks like we're in a good place of course, we don't know exactly where the others are but we are quite confident about our potential.
"We just need to see if it's going to be good enough but on my side, yeah, I'm really looking forward to the weekend and hopefully we can kick off the season in the best way possible."
Photos from Australian GP - Saturday
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Australian GP - Saturday, in photos
Formula 1
65
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Lewis Hamilton leaves fans in stitches after revealing cow named Max: "Not on my bingo card"
Next article F1 Australian GP: George Russell leads interrupted FP3 as Kimi Antonelli suffers heavy crash
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Lydia Mee
Laurent Mekies credited with ending Red Bull's second seat "curse"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Laurent Mekies credited with ending Red Bull's second seat "curse"
Guenther Steiner jokes Christian Horner Ferrari talk is good book publicity
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Guenther Steiner jokes Christian Horner Ferrari talk is good book publicity
Kimi Antonelli has "spooked himself" amid F1 title pressure, says Naomi Schiff
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Kimi Antonelli has "spooked himself" amid F1 title pressure, says Naomi Schiff
More from
Mercedes
George Russell predicts key Ferrari "advantage" at F1 Mexican GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
1 h
George Russell predicts key Ferrari "advantage" at F1 Mexican GP
George Russell on F1 title loss: 'This year won't break me'
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
12 h
George Russell on F1 title loss: 'This year won't break me'
Latest news
'My bike only works in a straight line,' says frustrated Francesco Bagnaia after Malaysian GP practice
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Malaysian GP
2 min
'My bike only works in a straight line,' says frustrated Francesco Bagnaia after Malaysian GP practice
Audi pays tribute as F1 stalwart Beat Zehnder set for exit
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
33 min
Audi pays tribute as F1 stalwart Beat Zehnder set for exit
MotoGP Malaysian GP: Marc Marquez tops practice as Martin ends Friday early
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Malaysian GP
1 h
MotoGP Malaysian GP: Marc Marquez tops practice as Martin ends Friday early
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe