Toto Wolff insists that the latest change to the rule regarding the age at which a driver can qualify for a superlicence won’t change his plans for Kimi Antonelli.
Amidst strain from Williams, which it’s thought is eager to run the Italian as early because the forthcoming Dutch Grand Prix, the FIA just lately amended the Worldwide Sporting Code.
Underneath the earlier rule a driver couldn’t be issued a superlicence till he’s 18, whereas Antonelli’s 18th birthday is on the day of the Zandvoort race.
The latest modification, now advises that: “On the sole discretion of the FIA, a driver judged to have just lately and persistently demonstrated excellent means and maturity in single-seater system automotive competitors could also be granted an excellent licence on the age of 17 years outdated”, whereas additionally eradicating the demand that the driving force in query “be the holder of a legitimate driving licence when he applies for an excellent licence for the primary time.”
No matter Williams would possibly keep in mind for the teen, the actual curiosity is whether or not Mercedes would possibly place him alongside George Russell in 2025. Beforehand, Wolff, who additionally manages Antonelli, claimed that he did not need to rush him.
Requested what the modification to the foundations means, the Austrian mentioned: “Which means nothing. I feel the FIA has taken a standpoint saying we do not need to have a tough restrict on a selected age as a result of it might be the truth that younger males might be fast-tracked if their success is excellent.
“So in a means, that wasn’t about Antonelli,” he added. “That was extra to vary one thing within the rules within the World Motorsport Council that anyway was within the discretion of the President earlier than.
“For us, it does not make an enormous distinction. Kimi is doing F2, he is doing the TPC testing, he is studying, he is growing, he is making errors, all of that collectively, and that’s the present standing. In order that wasn’t an acute have to put him in a automotive.”
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