Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Kimi Antonelli produced a remarkable recovery at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix after qualifying for Q2 despite suffering a heavy crash during final practice at Albert Park Circuit.
The incident occurred late in FP3 when the young Italian driver lost control while exiting Turn 2. Antonelli took too much kerb on the outside of the corner, which destabilised the rear of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team W17 and caused the car to pivot suddenly.
The car slid toward the outside of the circuit before hitting the barrier heavily, resulting in extensive damage to the Mercedes. The impact forced race control to deploy a red flag while marshals recovered the car and cleared debris from the track.
Antonelli was able to climb out of the damaged car without assistance and return to the pit lane, while the Mercedes mechanics immediately began repairing the W17 in preparation for qualifying.
Initially, the scale of the damage suggested the team might struggle to rebuild the car in time. However, the Mercedes crew worked quickly in the garage, replacing damaged components and preparing the car for the upcoming session.
Their efforts were aided by a red flag during Q1 following a crash for Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing. The stoppage provided additional time for Mercedes to complete the repairs.
With just over seven minutes remaining in Q1 once the session resumed, Antonelli returned to the circuit and delivered a strong lap to secure a place in the next stage of qualifying. He ended the session sixth fastest, comfortably advancing to Q2.
Over team radio after completing the lap, Antonelli praised the efforts of the Mercedes mechanics who had rebuilt his car in time.
“Oh my God! Thank you guys, you’re the best!” Antonelli said.
Despite the impressive recovery, the Italian driver’s qualifying result remains subject to a potential investigation. Antonelli is currently under review by the stewards for a possible pit lane infringement when qualifying resumed following the red flag.
Officials will assess whether the Mercedes driver complied with pit lane procedures when leaving the garage after the car had been repaired.
The dramatic sequence added further intensity to an already eventful Australian Grand Prix weekend, with multiple incidents affecting the running across practice and qualifying sessions.
For Mercedes, successfully returning Antonelli to the track after such a significant crash highlighted the team’s operational efficiency. However, the final outcome of his qualifying effort will depend on the stewards’ verdict regarding the ongoing investigation.
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Baca Juga
Kimi Antonelli memicu denda Mercedes di F1 Australia 2026 setelah kipas pendingin tertinggal di mobil saat Q3 dan menyebabkan red flag serta kerusakan mobil rival.
Aston Martin berdiskusi dengan FIA agar Lance Stroll tetap bisa start F1 Australia 2026 meski gagal ikut kualifikasi.
Lewis Hamilton mempertanyakan keunggulan tenaga Mercedes setelah Ferrari tertinggal jauh di kualifikasi F1 Australia 2026.
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