And finally the rules were changed: the FIA updated Appendix L of the International Sporting Code to add a clause. Although you must be 18 years old to apply for a Formula 1 Superlicense, the International Federation grants a special exemption that can be granted to some 17-year-old drivers.
The argument can also be valid for participating only in free practice and it becomes automatic to think that the measure may have been approved for Kimi Antonelli who could make his debut before his 18th birthday which will be celebrated on August 25th.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, junior Mercedes driver
Article 13.1.2 of Appendix L now reads: “At the sole discretion of the FIA, a driver judged to have recently and consistently demonstrated exceptional ability and maturity in single-seater formula motor racing, may be granted a Super License at the age of 17 years.”
Mercedes’ plans include the desire to replace Lewis Hamilton who is leaving for Ferrari in 2025, with the young man from Bologna currently racing in Formula 2 with Prema. And, then, it becomes legitimate to ask ourselves why the request, which had been officially denied, to the FIA to grant an exemption for the minor Antonelli was carried forward.
The Star, in the meantime, has started a training program for Kimi who has already carried out four test sessions: the first with the W12 at the Red Bull Ring, then moving on to the ground effect W13 with which he lapped at Imola, Silverstone and Barcelona .
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes W12
The federal government’s provision suggests that Antonelli’s entry into the Circus could take place before the young Emilian talent comes of age, so speculation immediately started again. Initially it seemed that the 17-year-old could join Williams in place of Logan Sargeant, but James Vowles denied those rumours.
In recent days the rumor had spread that Toto Wolff would not have made Kimi official if there was even a minimum percentage of being able to take three-time world champion Max Verstappen from Red Bull for the 2025 season.
This would have annoyed the Mercedes management who were very inclined to give Antonelli a chance to join George Russell in the official team. After all, the reigning 2023 Formula Regional champion and previous Italian F4 champion has been supported by Stella since he raced in karting, so it is right that he can arrive at F1 with the brand that believed and invested in him.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli in Mercedes hospitality in 2018
Photo by: Franco Nugnes
What, then, does the rewriting of Article 13.1.2 of Appendix L mean? That Mercedes could use Kimi before the summer break, i.e. before the next private test that the Brackley team had planned in view of the summer holidays.
The nervousness that emerged in the Canadian GP between Lewis Hamilton, now separated at home, and the team managed by Toto Wolff, could be the result of a deeper rift between two characters who have gotten along well for years . The seven-time world champion complained after the last tire change in Montreal because Russell was sent back on track with medium tyres, while he got a set of hards. There was a clear attempt to keep the youngest Briton ahead of the seasoned champion.
There are those who raise the possibility that Hamilton could terminate his contract with Mercedes prematurely and Toto Wolff would only protect himself, putting his hands forward as if something big could happen if the situation were to suddenly worsen. It seems like political fiction, but lately reality has surprised us more than imagination…
It will be interesting to see if the Bolognese will set foot in the GPs by driving in FP1 on tracks that he will not have the opportunity to discover with the training plan that Toto Wolff has set up for him or if he will be called to race with the black and silver arrow. Just wait a little to find out more…
#FIA #exempts #17yearolds #Antonelli #Mercedes
