Kimi Antonelli was recorded colliding with a barrier while driving a Mercedes on the road during the US Grand Prix.
Kimi Antonelli is on the brink of claiming the Formula 1 world championship, yet the Mercedes driver was caught by fans making a blunder in the car park, illustrating that even the most skilled racers can slip up.
The young Italian arrived at the Circuit of the Americas this weekend in a custom Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe, courtesy of the team's collaboration with MANUFAKTUR. However, while reversing into a parking spot next to his teammate George Russell’s identical vehicle, he went a bit too far and collided with the wooden barrier behind him.
The damage was minimal, but Antonelli entertained the onlookers by performing a burnout, enveloping the area in tyre smoke.
This was an uncommon misstep during a weekend where the 20-year-old has otherwise appeared sharp. As he heads into qualifying, Antonelli is aware that he could be crowned F1 champion this week. While it is a long shot, it underscores an exceptional season for a driver who only entered the championship last year.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Mercedes has rolled out a new front wing to enhance the upgrade package it introduced in Malaysia. Antonelli utilized that package in Singapore while Russell opted for the previous specification for comparison, but both drivers are equipped with the complete latest package this weekend.
“Since Singapore we have been able to analyze the data and gain a better understanding of what this package requires,” Antonelli stated. “We’re still working to optimize the car’s performance, but we’ve been making progress and we’ll see how we can further improve.”
Antonelli approaches Sunday’s race with a 102-point advantage over Russell and has the potential to become the youngest world champion in F1 history. To secure the title in Austin, he must win, with Russell finishing ninth or lower and Lewis Hamilton fifth or lower.
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