Details Emerge on Antonelli's Road Crash; Ex-Hamilton Engineer Criticized for Radio Drama

Italian authorities have reconstructed the details of Kimi Antonelli's recent road accident in San Marino, revealing the sequence of events that led to the crash. Separately, former F1 race engineer Rob Smedley has publicly criticized Riccardo Adami, Lewis Hamilton's former race engineer at Mercedes, over last season's radio communications, calling them a sign of a dysfunctional partnership.

Why it matters:

These two stories highlight critical off-track factors that can impact a driver's career and team performance. For a highly-touted prospect like Antonelli, any incident, especially so close to testing, raises concerns about focus and preparation. For a top team like Mercedes, public criticism of internal communication from a respected figure like Smedley points to deeper operational issues that may have contributed to their recent competitive struggles.

The details:

• Antonelli's Accident: The crash occurred on a dual carriageway in Serravalle, San Marino. Police reports indicate Antonelli lost control of his Mercedes-AMG GT 63 on an uphill stretch near Via Ranco.
• Crash Sequence: After losing control, the car first hit a roadside sign on the right before colliding with a guardrail twice. Authorities noted that light traffic conditions helped prevent more severe consequences.
• Smedley's Critique: Appearing on the High Performance podcast, Smedley analyzed the frequent, often tense radio exchanges between Hamilton and Adami broadcast in 2025.
• Radio as a Red Flag: Smedley argued that such public frustrations are a symptom of a driver-engineer relationship lacking the necessary trust and seamless understanding, which becomes counterproductive.
• Call Centre Comment: He emphasized that a race engineer must always be fully aware of the car's status to provide immediate answers. Hearing responses like "we'll get back to you" was, in his view, unacceptable, stating bluntly that "the pit wall is not a call centre."

The big picture:

Antonelli's incident is a reminder of the intense scrutiny and pressure young drivers face even outside the cockpit. For Mercedes, Smedley's comments feed into the narrative of internal challenges during a period where the team has failed to recapture its former dominance. The critique underscores how vital crisp, trusted communication is within a top F1 team, suggesting that Mercedes's issues may have extended beyond car performance.

What's next:

Antonelli will need to demonstrate that this off-track incident is behind him as he continues his testing and development program. For Mercedes, the public dissection of last year's radio dramas adds another layer to the team's ongoing effort to rebuild a winning structure, now without Hamilton and with a new driver lineup for the coming season.