This week, the FIA tweaked the rules, first removing the clause that necessitated a valid driving licence and then adding the line: “At the sole discretion of the FIA, a driver judged to have recently and consistently demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity in single-seater formula car competition may be granted a Super Licence at the age of 17 years old.”
Antonelli has already achieved impressive success in junior formulas, including winning the Italian F4 and ADAC F4 titles in 2022 and the Formula Regional Middle East and European Championships – and thus would have a convincing argument to earn that discretion.
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If the FIA approves his licence, which is highly likely, he would be eligible to take part in either an FP1 or, if required, as a race weekend driver from the upcoming Spanish Grand Prix – rather than having to wait until his home Italian Grand Prix at the earliest.
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