A Formula 1 Star Had A Funny Mishap

Kimi Antonelli couldn't handle the automatic transmission.

Mercedes Formula 1 driver Kimi Antonelli accidentally backed into a wooden fence while driving a Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe during a promotional photo shoot ahead of the U.S. Grand Prix. His teammate George Russell was filming the incident and didn’t miss the chance to tease the driver, according to Motor1.

Antonelli was parking his car next to Russell’s ahead of a planned dramatic burnout start. However, the driver didn’t notice that the transmission was still in reverse and pressed the accelerator. The car rolled backward and hit a wooden fence.

“To go forward, you have to shift into Drive!” Russell remarked, commenting on his teammate’s mistake.

The Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe, prepared for the team’s drivers, delivers about 860 kW of power and nearly 2,000 N·m of torque. The car can accelerate to 97 km/h in about two seconds. The damage to the car and the barrier was minor.

Antonelli quickly shifted into the correct gear, pulled away from the barrier, and executed a planned, spectacular start with smoke billowing from the tires.

“Antonelli has been nearly flawless on the track this season,” notes Motor1, contrasting his racing form with his unfortunate mistake behind the wheel of a street car.

The incident did not prevent the Italian from performing successfully at the U.S. Grand Prix: he started from pole position and moved within two points of the Formula 1 title with one race remaining in the season.

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