P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The Italian prospect has been touted as a possible replacement for Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes or Logan Sargeant at Williams.
The FIA has confirmed receiving a request for a superlicence waiver for Mercedes protege Andrea Kimi Antonelli, currently racing in Formula 2 and tested for Mercedes at Imola in the 2022 car. Speculation suggests he could fill Lewis Hamilton’s seat in 2025 or replace Logan Sargeant possibly in the ’24 season. A stumbling block is Antonelli not having an FIA superlicence, which requires being 18, holding a valid driving licence, passing an F1 theory test, and earning 40 points from other championships over three years. Antonelli, at 17, will turn 18 on August 25th, the day of the Dutch Grand Prix, and lacks an Italian driving licence. Despite this, he has accrued 40 points from various championships, potentially making a waiver from the FIA crucial for him to race in F1 before August. The FIA stated they are reviewing the request for a rule change regarding his superlicence.
