The FIA has been asked to allow Mercedes junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli to make his Formula 1 debut before he turns 18.
The Formula 2 driver has been tipped for a seat at Mercedes next year when the team needs to replace Lewis Hamilton.
Antonelli’s four wins in different championships over the last two years mean he has already more than fulfilled the requirement to score at least 40 FIA superlicence points to qualify to race in F1.
However the FIA International Sporting Code states a driver “must be at least 18 years old at the start of the event of his first F1 competition.” Antonelli will not turn 18 until August 25th, the day of the Dutch Grand Prix, and therefore could not enter a competition until the following round at Monza in Italy.
Antonelli has been a member of Mercedes’ junior driver programme since 2018. However a team spokesperson confirmed to RaceFans they are not seeking a rule change or dispensation for him to make an early debut in F1.
A potential destination for Antonelli is Mercedes’ customer team Williams. Its team principal James Vowles joined the team last year from Mercedes, where he was involved in their young driver programme and worked with Antonelli.
If Antonelli was to arrive at Williams this year, he would most likely take the place of Logan Sargeant, as Alexander Albon’s contract already extends into next year. Rumours about Sargeant’s future have already begun to circulate in Miami, scene of his home grand prix this weekend.
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Sargeant has failed to impress since joining Williams last year. He has not out-qualified Albon once in 27 grands prix and had a series of crashes. He was benched by the team during the Australian Grand Prix weekend after Albon crashed in practice, leaving them with a single chassis, as Vowles felt his team mate offered their best chance of scoring points in the race.
Williams have not responded to a request for comment. Any change to Antonelli’s racing plans would require the agreement of his management team, including Mercedes.
The FIA is considering the request but any change is unlikely to happen quickly as it would require the approval of various people and commissions.
The governing body has previously stuck firm to its superlicence restrictions. In 2022 it turned down a request from Red Bull to allow IndyCar driver Colton Herta to make his Formula 1 debut with their junior team….
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