Kimi Antonelli spotted with hand brace in Shanghai after Melbourne crash
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli arrived at the Shanghai International Circuit wearing a brace on his left hand, a precaution following a heavy crash during the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park.
Melbourne crash recap
-
Antonelli lost control of his W17 at Turn One after touching the kerb, spinning violently into the wall, and being launched back onto the track.
-
On-board footage shows Antonelli keeping his hands on the wheel during the initial impact.
-
The crash registered a G-force of over 25G, prompting deployment of the medical car.
-
Despite the accident, Mercedes repaired his car in time for Q1, where Antonelli qualified second behind teammate George Russell. He finished P2 in the race.
Reactions and precautions
- Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff praised Antonelli’s resilience:
“He’s literally learning it the hard way, which makes him stronger… he was very, very strong on Friday and his pace on Saturday was there. But then the accident happened, and that can happen.”
-
The 19-year-old described the crash as a “big kick in the butt”, affecting his confidence heading into qualifying.
-
Antonelli did not comment specifically on his wrist but wore strapping around his left hand in Shanghai.
-
Mercedes confirmed the brace is a precaution following the Melbourne crash.
Looking ahead
Antonelli acknowledged the challenges of bouncing back:
“It didn’t go as smoothly as hoped… the crash kind of lowers your confidence. But then going into qualifying, the mechanic did incredible, and I just tried to make the best out of it. Pace was strong, and I was able to come back. Unfortunately, not enough.”
Despite the setback, the young Mercedes driver demonstrated resilience and a strong pace, indicating he is ready to continue learning and competing in the early F1 2026 season.