FIA regulations virtually guarantee Kimi Antonelli’s place at Mercedes for the 2025 season.

Kimi Antonelli received his FIA Super License at the age of 17. This decision was made after the departure of the Mercedes driver, which left the company in need of a new driver. Despite the availability of several options, including more experienced drivers, the best choice was 17-year-old Antonelli.

Antonelli, a rising star in the Mercedes program, made his F2 debut this season. He impressed the team during private testing in F1. However, previous super licensing rules set by the FIA ​​prevented drivers under 18 from taking part in F1 sessions. This rule was implemented after the 17-year-old’s debut at Toro Rosso.

Toto Wolff, Mercedes team principal, has previously suggested that Antonelli would be the preferred choice for the future. The Italian driver would be an ideal team member for , with the latter taking over the leadership role and guiding his younger colleague. While there is no official confirmation from Mercedes, the FIA’s recent rule change strongly suggests that Antonelli will secure his place in the team for the 2025 season.

A few weeks ago, there were rumors that Mercedes had asked Antonelli for a super license at the age of 17. Toto Wolff quickly denied these rumors, but the FIA’s decision now confirms that the reports were indeed true.

The age limit for a Super License of 18 has been in place for almost a decade. The fact that the FIA ​​added the rule indicates that it received a serious request from Mercedes. Additionally, Wolff recently ruled out Carlos Sainz as a potential successor to Lewis Hamilton, who is moving to Ferrari.

There was no final, Kimi Antonelli was the only driver who met the starting criteria for Mercedes. Toto Wolff showed great confidence in the young Italian driver. Antonelli is currently sixth in the Formula 2 standings with 48 points.

Without a doubt, Kimi Antonelli managed to impress Toto Wolff and secure his chance at the top of motorsport. He has already accumulated enough points to qualify for a Super License. We now eagerly await Mercedes’ official announcement confirming that Antonelli will become a driver for the next F1 season.