Williams Team Principal James Vowles has denied building speculation that Andrea Kimi Antonelli could be in line to make his
On Friday, it was revealed that the FIA received a request for an exemption for Antonelli to compete in F1 before he turns 18 in August. Despite meeting the 40-point Super License criteria, Antonelli’s age currently violates F1 regulations as he is still under 18. The young Italian, making his Formula 2 debut, participated in F1 tests with Mercedes using both the 2021 and 2022 cars. Rumors suggest Vowles, not Mercedes, is backing Antonelli possibly as a replacement for Sargeant in F1. While Antonelli could join F1 from the Italian GP in September, a waiver on the age rule might expedite his debut. Vowles dismissed talks of Sargeant’s imminent exit, focusing instead on finding the right driver lineup for the upcoming seasons of ’25 and ’26 to benefit from stable regulations. The FIA acknowledged the application for Antonelli but emphasized the need to follow the proper protocol involving a stakeholders’ vote. Being considered for the soon-to-be-vacant Mercedes seat, Antonelli could inherit Lewis Hamilton’s position after Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari next season.
