Mercedes is in a race in opposition to time to restore Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s destroyed automobile in time for qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix.
Antonelli suffered an enormous crash in Flip 2 when he took energy from a left-handed driver. Antonelli took extra of the exit curb than on earlier laps, inflicting him to crash arduous into the barrier on the appropriate.
A second influence adopted and Antonelli’s W17 crashed into the left wall.
Fortunately, Antonelli was unhurt within the violent accident, however a medical automobile was required. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff advised Sky Germany that the crash was measured at 17Gs.
The 19-year-old Italian was in a position to stroll again to the Mercedes storage with out help, though this resulted in a purple flag.
Antonelli’s Mercedes has suffered vital harm and his participation in qualifying in Melbourne is now in critical doubt.
Mercedes is not going to know till the tip of Q1 whether or not Antonelli will be capable to take part in qualifying. In different phrases, it will likely be a tricky choice.
The accident pressured Mercedes to interchange Antonelli’s automobile’s gearbox and rear finish, in addition to different broken elements that wanted changing.
The truth that Mercedes misplaced 20 minutes because of a late begin to ultimate follow at Albert Park didn’t assist their quest.
Antonelli’s Mercedes teammate and early 2026 title contender George Russell led in FP3 and set an eerie tempo.
Russell had a lead of over six tenths over Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari.
