Andrea Kimi Antonelli is on everyone’s lips – even though the Mercedes junior is not even 18 years old. This is exactly what stood in the way of a quick Formula 1 debut. But a new appendix to the International Sporting Code recently made it possible for a driver to receive a super license at the age of 17, at the discretion of the FIA.
In addition, under the new regulation, super license candidates no longer need a valid driver’s license. This also plays into Antonelli’s hands, as in Italy you have to be of legal age to do so. With the approval of the FIA, the Mercedes protégé could make his Formula 1 debut before his 18th birthday on Sunday of the Grand Prix in the Netherlands on August 25th. This will be the first race after the summer break in 2024.
Red Bull junior in focus of FIA inquiry
The initial suspicion was that the new regulation was a response to a corresponding request by Mercedes. At the beginning of May it was announced that a request had been received by the FIA. According to information from Motorsport-Magazin.com However, the request did not come from Mercedes, but from Red Bull.
The reason for the soft drink company’s request is said to be its own junior driver Arvid Lindblad. The Brit is currently still driving in Formula 3, but is doing extremely well there and was able to score his first victory in a Formula 3 main race last weekend in Barcelona. He had previously won the sprint in Bahrain.
At the halfway point of the season, 16-year-old Lindblad is the best rookie in Formula 3 and is in fourth place in the drivers’ rankings. This means he is in line for a promotion to Formula 2 next year – at just 17 years of age. Lindblad could therefore also benefit from the new regulation in the future.
Wolff: New F1 age rule makes no difference
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff also doesn’t want to hear anything about a Lex Antonelli: “The FIA has taken the position that they say: ‘We don’t want a hard limit at a certain age because it could be a fact that young men can be promoted more quickly because their success is outstanding.’ So in a way it was not a Lex Antonelli.”
Wolff also denies having any influence on Antonelli’s further 2024 program. “It doesn’t make much difference to us,” the Austrian clarifies. “Kimi does Formula 2, he does TPC tests.” TPC stands for ‘Testing of previous cars’, i.e. Formula 1 cars that are at least two years old. Antonelli last completed such a test on May 31 in Silverstone. According to the Silver Arrows, however, this was not a so-called shootout for the vacant Mercedes cockpit.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli hot contender for Mercedes cockpit
“He’s learning, he’s developing, he’s making mistakes. All of that together is his current status,” says Wolff, again dismissing rumors about a Lex Antonelli as mere fables. “So there was no acute need to put him in a car,” says the 52-year-old. “We could give him FP1 sessions after his 18th birthday anyway, which is directly after the shutdown.” A Formula 1 racing debut in the near future does not seem to be on the agenda.
Antonelli is considered a hot candidate to succeed record world champion Lewis Hamilton, who is leaving the Silver Arrows for Ferrari at the end of 2024 after twelve years. Other potential successor options such as Fernando Alonso and Alexander Albon recently signed contract extensions and rumors about a possible signing of Max Verstappen have also recently died down.
In addition, Carlos Sainz, who was long considered the most realistic option alongside Antonelli, is probably out of the race. “These places are obviously not going to happen,” Sainz said on the sidelines of the Canadian GP with regard to a possible future at Red Bull or Mercedes.
Kimi Antonelli in Formula 2: Good, but good enough?
On paper, the path would be clear for Antonelli. However, the youngster is currently in his rookie season in Formula 2 and is far from the heights of a Charles Leclerc, George Russell or Oscar Piastri and is in ninth place in the championship without a podium finish. Antonelli is already 52 points behind championship leader Paul Aron – also a rookie and ex-Mercedes junior.
In Antonelli’s defense, however, it must be noted that unlike Leclerc, Russell and Piastri, who won the Formula 2 title in their rookie season, the Italian skipped the intermediate step of Formula 3. Instead, Antonelli rose directly from Formula Regional to the lower ranks of the premier class.
In addition to Antonelli, another driver, Liam Lawson, could make his debut as a regular driver in Formula 1 next year in 2025. Red Bull motorsport advisor Dr. Helmut Marko fueled any rumors ahead of the Red Bull home game this weekend. You can read all the details in this article: