Since the FIA changed the age rules for a Super Licence to race in Formula 1, there has been mixed response in the motorsport world.
The minimum age for an FIA Super Licence remains to be 18 years old, but the governing body has updated the International Sporting Code to allow dispensation for drivers who are 17 years old who have “consistently demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity” in single-seater championships.
Drivers must have a Super Licence to race in F1, which can be obtained through competing in lower categories and earning points. In addition to lowering the age limit, it has also omitted the requirement for drivers to have a full road licence.
Questions over whether the Super Licence system is credible were raised when IndyCar driver Colton Herta was denied in 2022. The American, who was 22 years-old at the time and had won multiple races in IndyCar, was refused because he only had 32 points instead of the required 40 points.
Herta has been linked as a potential option for Andretti if they manage to enter Formula 1, although that doesn’t look imminent at this stage.
Fellow IndyCar star Alexander Rossi was vocal about the decision that favours Kimi Antonelli, calling them out for their apparent bias towards bending the rules.
READ MORE: Who is Mercedes academy driver Antonelli? Everything you need to know
Tiff Needell describes FIA regulation change as “ridiculous”
Now former F1 driver Tiff Needell has weighed in on the matter, describing the decision as “ridiculous” when speaking on the Lovecars On the Grid podcast.
“They’re making special dispensation for a 17-year-old, who hasn’t even won a Formula 2 race yet, to have a Super Licence. Whereas they wouldn’t make any dispensation for a 22-year-old Colton Herta who had won six Indy Lights races, seven IndyCar races and was wanted by AlphaTauri. But the FIA said ‘No we can’t change any rules’ and it’s just ridiculous.
“Mercedes have decided they want Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who is an amazing talent, but you just have to have a line in this world. I think Herta was just two points shy of a super licence they would have had dispensation. But on the 25th of August, he [Antonelli] turns 18. He can then drive a Grand Prix car for the rest of his life.
“The FIA said they have to make special dispensation for ‘outstanding talent’ i.e. ‘special dispensation for one person: Kimi Antonelli’ no doubt.”
Will we see an early F1 debut for Andrea Kimi Antonelli?
Even though Kimi Antonelli is currently competing in the Formula 2 series and sits sixth in the Drivers’ Championship, he could be in line for an early F1 promotion.
The young Italian has been tipped as the potential replacement for Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, with the team keen to get him in a customer team’s car early after he impressed during two tests.
One possibility is that he could replace American Logan Sargeant, who has been underperforming since the start of the year, in a mid-season swap at Williams. An unnamed team reportedly requested dispensation for Kimi Antonelli in May, via RACER.
The post ‘Just ridiculous’: Former F1 driver demands justice for IndyCar star after F1 rule change for Kimi Antonelli appeared first on F1 Oversteer.