He hasn’t officially made his Formula One debut yet, but Andrea Kimi Antonelli may already have one thing in common with Max Verstappen. The debut a 17 years. As is well known, in fact, the three-time world champion (well tipped for consecutive poker) took his first steps in the highest category of motorsport in the 2014 season with Toro Rosso, when he had not yet made his majority official .
The driver born in Bologna, already pointed out as a future great interpreter of motorsport, seems destined to land in Mercedes starting from 2025, but an important piece of news put in black and white by the FIA could even see him in a Formula One single-seater in a very short time. The highest motorsport body, in fact, has modified Appendix L of the International Sporting Code by adding a clause.
Until now, it was only possible to request the Super-License to race in F1 if you were already 18 years old. Now, however, there is an exemption for some 17-year-old drivers. “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.”
Kimi Antonelli will blow out his 18th candles on August 25th which with this possibility could bring forward the program, holding some free practice sessions in tight times. Mercedes’ plans include the desire to include the Italian in place of the “Black King”. At this point we must ask ourselves why the request was made to the FIA to grant an exemption for the minor Antonelli who, in the meantime, has already carried out 4 tests with the Brackley team.
Mercedes, therefore, could use Kimi before the summer break. Not only. In England they write about a Lewis Hamilton who is very annoyed by the treatment he received (not least in Canada) from his team and, consequently, a sensational breakup cannot be ruled out. Even in that case, therefore, Kimi Antonelli could take advantage of this and start his F1 career right now, alongside George Russell.
