Andrea Kimi Antonelli photographed on 1 May, when it was 30 years since Ayrton Senna died. Antonelli wears Senna’s legendary cap. The photo was taken at the Imola circuit, where Senna died in 1994. Photo: Jennifer Lorenzini / Reuters / NTB
Andrea Kimi Antonelli turns 18 in August. Now the Mercedes team is asking that he be granted a dispensation to drive Formula 1.
Friday 3 May at 23:56
The FIA has received an application for a dispensation for a so-called “super license” To be able to drive in Formula 1, you must have a so-called “super license” from the international motor sports association FIA. for Antonelli, writer Autosport.
– Bad news for Logan Sargeant, say Viaplay commentators Atle Gulbrandsen and Thomas Schie.
They believe that Mercedes’ plan is to place Antonelli with its Williams team-mates in 2024 – so that the Italian can gain some Formula 1 experience in 2024 and then replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes from 2025.
– I think Sargeant realizes that his Formula 1 adventure is soon over, says Gulbrandsen after the American finished second last in Friday’s sprint qualifying.
Williams nevertheless denies on Friday that they have a plan to replace Sargeant with Antonelli, reports Autosport.
Formula 1 introduced an age limit of 18 in 2016.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli fought a hard duel with Norwegian Martinius Stenshorne for the overall victory in the so-called FRECA championship in 2023.
But instead of – like Stenshorne – moving on to Formula 3, Antonelli was placed directly in Formula 2, where he competes with another Norwegian, Dennis Hauger, among others.
Toto Wolff has previously said that Mercedes is very keen to keep Antonelli so that the prodigy does not disappear to other teams.
Friday evening was qualifying for Saturday’s sprint race in Miami. It didn’t go well for Mercedes.
Neither George Russell nor Lewis Hamilton entered the top ten.
– I think Hamilton is looking forward to a new challenge at Ferrari. When he has a car that doesn’t work, I think it goes beyond motivation, says Viaplay expert Thomas Schie.
– They are actually beaten by a Haas driver, Schie continues about the two Mercedes guys.
The McLaren drivers, on the other hand, impressed for a long time. There are ten (!) improvements to the McLaren car for this weekend’s race. However, Lando Norris failed when it mattered most and was only ninth in qualifying. Oscar Piastri was sixth.
The qualification was “of course” won by Max Verstappen. The Red Bull driver was followed by Charles Leclerc and Sergio Pérez. Daniel Ricciardo was the big surprise with 4th place. He cheered across the finish line. The Australian struggled from the start of the season, but has improved.
– What happened to the others? wondered Red Bull driver Verstappen on the team radio afterwards. He did not quite understand what had happened in the decisive qualifying section.
– It felt quite bad, he says in the arena interview.
– With that, it was probably difficult to get the tires to work in the third sequence.
Saturday’s sprint race takes place at 18.00 at Viaplay. There are 19 rounds without pit stops. Later on Saturday evening, at 22.00, there is qualification for Sunday’s Grand Prix race.