Good news for the Italian rider
Max Verstappen he made his F1 debut at 17 years old when he was not yet of age in Australia in 2015 at the wheel of Toro in the first GP of the championship which saw the Dutchman finish in 12th position with 49 points under his belt and two fourth places as his best results. The current three-time world champion celebrated his 18th birthday on September 30th and the FIA subsequently ruled that no driver could race in F1 before turning 18.
Now, however, as the newspaper reports Autosport an exemption has arrived to allow 17-year-olds to race in F1 if it is demonstrated that they are deserving and capable of doing so. This is a topic relating to the FIA’s established exemption which is of particular interest to Italian motor racing because being able to benefit from this innovation is Andrea Kimi Antonellidriver of the Mercedes youth program who will thus be able to start accumulating kilometers in F1 without waiting for August 25th, when the Bolognese will become of age.
Before the summer break, Antonelli could therefore take part in some free practice sessions in FP1 on Fridays in the sessions that are intended by the regulations for young drivers (each team must give space to young drivers twice a season). Furthermore, rumors have emerged several times during these first months of 2024 according to which Antonelli could take over from Logan Sargeant in Williams to start taking measures in F1 in view of the move to Mercedes in 2025 in place of Lewis Hamilton, who will race with Ferrari from next year. At the wheel of the Mercedes, Antonelli recently took part in private tests in Barcelona, at the Red Bull Ring and at Silverstone, the three circuits that will host F1 over the next three weekends.
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