Verstappen grants 17-year-old Antonelli same chance: 'Not a fan of that rule'

According to the latest reports, Williams are keen to borrow Andrea Kimi Antonelli from Mercedes, but it would need dispensation from the FIA to do so before August. This is because Antonelli is only 17 years old and therefore not yet eligible for a super licence according to the rules. Max Verstappen, the first (and for now the last) to make his Formula 1 debut at that age, is not a fan of the rule created for this purpose.

Antonelli skipped Formula 3 and stepped straight from Formula 4 into an F2 car. The Formula 2 driver is considered a great up-and-coming talent. Despite Lewis Hamilton's seat becoming vacant next year due to his move to Ferrari, Mercedes would consider it too early to put the 17-year-old Italian in the car. Instead, Antonelli could be temporarily based at Williams, in which case Logan Sargeant would have to clear the field.

Max no fan of Verstappen rule

It is now known that dispensation has been requested for Antonelli, although it has not been disclosed by which F1 team. This is necessary because Antonelli is not eligible for his super licence until his 18th birthday, a rule introduced after Verstappen made his Grand Prix debut at the age of 17. Moreover, drivers have to accumulate a minimum of 40 points on their licence before they can get their super licence.

"This rule was introduced because of me, but in the end it does not prevent what it is meant for," the Red Bull Racing driver is quoted by Motorsport-Total.com. "It is not specifically about [Antonelli], but it can prevent some talented drivers from getting into Formula 1 quickly because they have to collect those 40 points first. I am not a big fan of this whole system."

Antonelli has already accumulated enough points, but is not yet eligible for his super licence only because of his age. Verstappen resents that, even if a driver would not yet have enough points on his licence: "The FIA thinks the rule is good, but I prefer not to have it. If someone is 17 or 18 years old and has maybe 20 points, but is very fast, why can't he get into Formula 1?"

This article was made in collaboration with Matt Gretton