Andrea Kimi Antonelli is predicted to be the next Max Verstappen due to his rapid progress in the junior ranks. He joined the F1 grid in 2015 at the age of 17, prompting FIA to establish a minimum age requirement of 18 to prevent young drivers from entering the top level of motorsport too early. However, this requirement has now been eliminated following rumors of a request to allow a 17-year-old to race. This decision has caused anger among Indycar driver Alexander Rossi, who was denied a similar exemption in the past.
Two years ago, there was speculation about the possibility of having an American driver in F1. The leading candidate for the seat at that time seemed to be Indycar star Colton Herta. However, this idea was abandoned as Herta did not have enough super license points and his request for an exemption was rejected by the governing body (FIA).
After 21 months, Andrea Kimi Antonelli emerged as the top candidate for the seat, but he was below the age limit. Surprisingly, FIA agreed to make an exception, which angered Alexander Rossi. He criticized FIA for granting exemptions now when they were not allowed a few years ago. This decision sparked outrage among fans, who questioned the integrity of FIA on social media.
While fans expressed doubts about FIA’s integrity, F1 experts considered this exemption to be necessary. A well-known F1 presenter explained why FIA made an exception for Antonelli but not for Herta. He emphasized that the cases of Antonelli and Herta were different from each other.
The presenter clarified that Antonelli had already qualified for a super license by earning enough points, even without competing in F3 or F2. However, Herta had not qualified for the super license because he had not accumulated enough points. This distinction between the two cases justifies FIA’s decision.
This rule change has now made it certain that Antonelli will move to Mercedes in 2025, leaving Rossi without a top seat to compete for. The only remaining options for Rossi are Red Bull Racing or Scuderia Ferrari.