This week, the world’s motorsport governing body, the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), Latest version of international sporting regulations publishedAppendix L updates include International Driving Permits and Super Permits.
And the revised rules could open up the opportunity for young drivers to get on the F1 grid before their 18th birthday.
Since Lewis Hamilton announced his shock move to Ferrari at the end of the 2024 season, Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s name has been floated for a seat on the F1 grid and as a possible replacement for Hamilton at Mercedes. A member of Mercedes’ driver program, Antonelli will skip F3 entirely and this will be his first season in F2.
He is also only 17 years old.
Ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, reports have surfaced that a team has requested an exemption to allow a driver under the age of 18 to obtain the required super license before competing in F1. Under current F1 regulations, a driver must be 18 to obtain the required super license. Max Verstappen is He made his F1 debut just a few days after his 17th birthday.
However, the FIA’s revised International Sporting Code includes Article 13.1.32 which states:
“Drivers must be at least 18 years of age at the start of their first Formula 1 competitive event. At the FIA’s sole discretion, a Super Licence may be granted at the age of 17 to a driver who is deemed to have recently and consistently demonstrated superior ability and maturity in single-seater formula car competition.”
Antonelli won’t turn 18 until August.
In addition, the former Article 13(1)(2) has been deleted. That provision now reads as follows:[t]Drivers must hold a valid driver’s license when applying for a Super Licence for the first time.”
Antonelli is Italian and the legal age for an Italian driver’s license is 18.
The rule change opens the door for Antonelli to receive an exemption from the FIA and obtain a Super Licence before his 18th birthday in August – the only other condition is that the young driver achieve the 40 points required for a Super Licence.
Antonelli has already exceeded that threshold, having won the Italian F4 Championship (12 points), the ADAC Formula 4 Championship (12 points), the Formula Regional Middle East Championship (18 points) and the Formula Regional European Championship (25 points). His 67 points clear the 40 point threshold. Appendix L, Supplement 1, outlines how points are awarded for success in the various competitions.
Now, the rule change doesn’t mean Antonelli will be on the grid this year: when the exemption issue first came up ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, along with speculation that Williams would replace Logan Sargent with Antonelli, team principal James Bowles dismissed those rumours.
But at least now, the door is officially open.
