Mercedes prodigy Kimi Antonelli could be making his F1 debut as early as 2024, as the FIA has introduced an exemption in the super license system for drivers less than 18 years of age. The young sensation has already accumulated enough points to be eligible for a super license but the only box he didn’t tick was his age.
Kimi is still 17 years of age and will turn 18 in August. A few weeks ago, rumors were rife about the young Italian possibly replacing Logan Sargeant at Williams, as this would give Antonelli a chance to prove himself and Mercedes a chance to assess where he stands.
The only roadblock was Kimi Antonelli not being 18 years of age and hence the driver was not eligible for a super license. Not now, though, as the FIA has stepped in and introduced an exemption that would give the Italian an opportunity to apply for the license and get it without much of a hassle.
There is, however, a large chunk of fans that have called out this move by the FIA. If we analyze the situation clearly, there is a case to be made over why something like this gives rise to conflict more than being a welcome decision for everyone.
Kimi Antonelli: Why exemption for the Mercedes prospect is good
The last time an F1 driver had the kind of hype even close to what Kimi Antonelli has right now, debuted with a Torro Rosso in 2015. Max Verstappen made waves in just his first season of racing when he fought Esteban Ocon for the F3 title.
He was a teenager touted to do great things. A decade later, we can say that it was the right call. Max Verstappen joined the sport as a teenager and what he’s done in F1 is unprecedented. Coming to Kimi Antonelli, the kind of praise bestowed on him by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has been very interesting.
In terms of his junior career, Kimi has a stellar record already. He won FRECA last season, the year prior, he won the Italian and ADAC F4 championships. He’s already racked up enough super license points even though he hasn’t raced in F3 and is in his rookie year in F2.
He’s fared favorably against his highly regarded teammate, Oliver Bearman (who is considered by many to be Ferrari’s future). In F2, he’s not found himself in a situation where he’s completely out of place, showcasing his impressive adaptability.
In all fairness, whether he’s 17 years 11 months, or 18 years of age, Kimi Antonelli has shown that he is a prodigious talent, and the Mercedes boss might have an asset in his hands.
Why F1 fans are not happy with this and rightly so
Just two seasons ago, there was a situation where young American driver Colton Herta was in contention for a seat at AlphaTauri. Helmut Marko had found the driver an interesting prospect and, hence, felt maybe it made sense to give him a shot as a replacement for Pierre Gasly.
There was one problem, however, and it was the manner in which the superlicense points were given. It’s a bit of a travesty that a driver gains more points competing in Formula 2 than he does while competing in a professional racing series like IndyCar.
Colton Herta, a perennial top-10 contender in IndyCar and a multiple-race winner, didn’t have the threshold super license points, and as a result, he could not make it. It all came down to the FIA to take the call on giving Herta an exemption as he was a seasoned professional driver.
The FIA opted against it, and the fact that Colton Herta didn’t have the necessary super license points was given as the reason behind the call.
F1 and the FIA’s hypocrisy being called out
The biggest concern seems to be the fairness with which the two cases have been handled. For Kimi Antonelli, yes, he has the super license points, but he does not tick all the boxes. Yet, for him, the FIA is willing to put together a change in rule where exceptions could be provided in certain cases.
For Colton Herta, he was not as lucky as Kimi Antonelli. Years of turning pro and racing in IndyCar meant he couldn’t gather the super license points. It should, however, not have been a concern because the super license as a concept has been introduced not to let talent below a certain threshold enter.
Herta is a multi-race winner in IndyCar and has been one of the better drivers in the series. He can handle himself in an F1 car for sure. There can even be questions raised about Kimi Antonelli, who is yet to score even a podium in F2 and will have a super license with him soon enough.
A sport that is already categorically blocking the entry of one of the big American racing names opted not to create an exemption from a proven talent of that region two years ago. Today, however, it went ahead and provided an exemption to an upcoming Italian talent in Kimi Antonelli.
The FIA and F1 have some answering to do, as different standards or perceptions of it can hurt the image of the sport in a market it wants to capitalize on the most.