Mercedes would be preparing Antonelli to race for Williams in 2025

April 24, 2024 09:49

Mercedes would be evaluating the possibility of placing the young Italian driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli at Williams in the 2025 Formula 1 season. However, there is an obstacle: Antonelli is only 17 years old and therefore cannot yet obtain the mandatory FIA super license. to race in the category.

According to rumors, Williams would be willing to request an exemption for Antonelli to race in 2025. The young Italian promise has already completed two days of testing with Mercedes in a 2021 W12 in Austria, and further tests with a 2022 W13 are scheduled .

Despite the interest, Mercedes itself fears that the F1 debut will be too early for Antonelli, according to journalist Joe Saward. Therefore, the plan would be to give the driver experience in a smaller team before a possible arrival at Mercedes in 2026. The loan to Williams, which is looking for a replacement for Logan Sargeant, appears as an alternative.

For now Antonelli is having his first season in Formula 2, and will only reach the minimum age for the super license at the end of August, when he turns 18. Williams could try to make an exception with the FIA, to have the driver still in the current season, but on the other hand, it may be better to let him complete this year in F2. Furthermore, the exemption request is more common for pilots who do not reach the points required for the superlicense, and obtaining an exception based on age seems to be a more complicated path.

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