ANDREA KIMI ANTONELLI’S hopes of being promoted to Mercedes’ Formula 1 driver line-up have been handed a major boost.
The FIA announced today that it has reduced the minimum age restriction to 17-years-old.
The governing body will allow teens of that age to race in Formula One if they have “consistently demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity in single-seater formula car competition.”
Antonelli has long been expected to take the vacant Mercedes seat for 2025 to partner George Russell at the team.
There is a space on the grid available as Lewis Hamilton is departing for Ferrari.
The seven-time world champion has signed a mega £100m two-year deal.
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The Bologna-born Antonelli turns 18 on August 25 this year and could theoretically make his FP1 debut, or even race, prior to F1’s summer break.
It was reported that an enquiry earlier this year had been made to the FIA about granting the teenager a superlicence despite him not yet being 18.
Antonelli has been supported by Mercedes since he raced in karts and chief Toto Wolff recently dropped a major hint that he would be driving in F1 next season.
At the Canada Grand Prix last week, Wolff said: “Carlos Sainz deserves a top seat. He’s done a fantastic job.
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“But for us, we’ve embarked on a route now.
“We want to reinvent ourselves a little bit going forward and Kimi Antonelli definitely plays a part in that.”
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Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
