Andrea Kimi Antonelli, an Italian driver for Prema Racing, competed in the FIA Formula 2 Championship in Melbourne, Australia on March 22, 2024.
Mercedes has denied any involvement in a request made to the FIA regarding an exemption for Andrea Kimi Antonelli from Formula 1’s minimum age rules. Toto Wolff, the boss of Mercedes, has been open about the possibility of Antonelli replacing Lewis Hamilton in 2025, but it has now been revealed that the request to the FIA, believed to be from Williams, could allow the Italian driver to obtain a Super License before turning 18. If successful, Antonelli would be able to race in F1 starting from the next race in Imola, fueling speculation that he may take Logan Sargeant’s place. However, Wolff clarified in an interview with Autosport that Mercedes did not initiate the request to the FIA and has no plans to expedite Antonelli’s F1 debut. He emphasized that Antonelli should focus on his F2 campaign and dismissed the rumors surrounding his potential promotion to F1.
Wolff stated, “The dispensation was not brought up by us, and we have consistently stated that it was not something we were pursuing. I’m not sure where this belief comes from that Mercedes was eager to push it forward. Kimi needs to concentrate on his F2 campaign, and he is aware of that. Everything else is just baseless rumors that continue to circulate.” He further emphasized that Antonelli is currently an F2 driver for Prema Racing, and that is the team’s primary focus.
Mercedes made the decision to promote Antonelli directly from the Formula Regional European Championship to F2 for the 2024 season, bypassing the intermediate step. While Antonelli has achieved the required 40 points to obtain a Super License through his success in the feeder series, Wolff is cautious about putting too much pressure on the young driver. He acknowledged that just 15 months ago, Antonelli was competing in an F4 car and emphasized the importance of following a diligent trajectory rather than rushing through the series. Wolff stated, “We have great belief in Kimi, his abilities, and his future. But we need to be careful and not dream about jumping from series to series in a way that is not beneficial for him. A true champion will not be distracted by any of this. However, I must admit that these rumors are distracting for me because everyone keeps asking me about Kimi and his potential debut in Imola. This is not going to happen. It is not something Mercedes desires. These rumors have taken on a life of their own. Let’s focus on Formula 2. As a team, we have many other issues to address.”
Antonelli has been juggling his debut season in Formula 2 with test drives in Formula 1, starting with the Mercedes 2021 car in Austria and then moving on to the 2022 W13 at Imola. Wolff, the team principal of Mercedes, has confirmed that they are pleased with Antonelli’s progress in both categories and there is no urgency to announce their second driver alongside George Russell for the 2025 season.
In regards to Antonelli’s dual campaign so far, Wolff stated: “It is following the expected path. There are good days and bad days. There are a few issues that need to be resolved between the drivers and the team, but this is not surprising. The testing is going well and we are approaching it with calmness and composure. This was our plan from the beginning of the season – a strong F2 campaign and testing for Mercedes. We will continue to stick to this plan. Anything else would only serve as a distraction for all of us.”
“We are extremely satisfied with George. He will remain a driver in our team. As for the rest of the driver market, we will observe how things unfold. However, any decisions regarding this will not be made in the coming weeks or months.”