Thursday, February 20, 2025

January 30, 2025

Racing Prodigy Andrea Kimi Antonelli Passes His Driver’s License Just Weeks Before Formula One Debut

In previous years, drivers needed a valid driver's license from their home country to participate in Formula One.

[Image: Andrea Kimi Antonelli Official / Facebook]

18-year-old prodigy Andrea Kimi Antonelli has passed his normal driving test just six weeks before he makes his Formula One debut for Mercedes at the Australian Grand Prix.

In previous years, drivers have been required to hold a valid driver’s license for the country listed as their nationality in order to qualify for a Super License, which allows them to compete in F1. They have also had to be 18 or older.

The rule was introduced in 2016 after Max Verstappen made his F1 debut for Toro Rosso, also at the Australian Grand Prix. Aged only 17 years and 166 days, his age became a hot topic after a few collisions early in his career, including a high-speed crash with Lotus driver Romain Grosjean at the Monaco Grand Prix.

However, the regulations were altered last year amid efforts from Mercedes to allow Antonelli to participate in F1 practice sessions ahead of his 18th birthday on August 25, 2024.

The clause requiring the likes of Antonelli to hold a driver’s license was removed, and a new clause allowed special dispensation to be given to 17-year-old drivers “judged to have recently and consistently demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity in single-seater formula car competition.”

After all, Verstappen went on to win the world driver’s championship for four consecutive years.

 

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Mercedes F1 Team CEO Toto Wolff told Formula1.com in 2024: “The president of the FIA always had the ability and discretion of letting a driver drive if you believe that the performance was good enough.”

“I think the change of regulations isn’t (about) Antonelli, it is generally to make sure that drivers with the right pedigree, CVs, success and maturity are able to race in F1, rather than a birth date.”

Antonelli subsequently made his practice debut at the Italian Grand Prix, momentarily recording the fastest lap before suffering a high-speed crash after 12 minutes. Despite significant damage to the car, he walked away unscathed.

But the kid has his license now, and was pictured in a Mercedes social media post sitting in a driving school car giving a thumbs up to the camera, accompanied by the caption: “Mission completed.”

They grow up so fast, don’t they? On February 26, the rookie and teammate George Russell will travel to Bahrain to start preseason testing. In 2024, Mercedes finished in a dismal fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship, its lowest position in twelve years. The team will be hoping that the two can improve on that performance.

[Source: CNN]