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Andrea Kimi Antonelli

FIA receive request for Antonelli superlicence waiver

The Italian prospect has been touted as a possible replacement for Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes or Logan Sargeant at Williams.

The FIA has confirmed that it has received a request for a superlicence waiver for Mercedes protege Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Antonelli is currently racing in Formula 2, and recently completed a second test for Mercedes at Imola in the 2022 car as the team prepares him for an expected grand prix seat in the future.

There has been speculation that Antonelli could even be fast-tracked into the seat Lewis Hamilton is leaving for 2025, or that Logan Sargeant will be jettisoned for Antonelli, possibly even during the '24 season.

However, one stumbling block to this idea is the fact that Antonelli does not currently hold an FIA superlicence - something that is needed for him to drive in F1.

The requirements are that a driver must be 18 years old, hold a valid driving licence in their home country, passed a theory test on the rules and regulations of F1, and hold 40 points over a three-year period from other championship.

17-year-old Antonelli will turn 18 on August 25th, the day of the Dutch Grand Prix, and is also unable to obtain an Italian driving licence as he must be 18 to receive it.

However, he does have the required 40 points to his name after success in the Italian Formula 4, Formula Regional Middle East and Formula Regional Europe championships.

Therefore the possibility of him racing in F1 before August depends on a waiver, something the FIA has confirmed a request for has been received.

"The FIA has received a request and we are looking into it," it said in a statement to media including RacingNews365.

"There is a process that needs to be followed for any potential rule change."

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