F1 team DENIES setting up imminent driver exit

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F1 team DENIES setting up imminent driver exit

Mercedes and Williams have been tipped as the youngster's future F1 destinations

Originally written by GPFans Staff. This version is a translation.

Thursday 9 May 2024 05:00

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says that his team have not requested that the FIA grant Kimi Antonelli an early superlicence.

Rumours have been circulating that Antonelli - a junior driver at Mercedes - could be on the grid sooner that expected.

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Originally tipped to be in contention for the vacant 2025 Mercedes seat, last week it was claimed that Antonelli could replace Logan Sargeant at Williams, who Mercedes supply engines to, as early as the Imola Grand Prix this month.

Sargeant has struggled in his second season at Williams, and suffered further torment in his home race in Miami when a collision with Kevin Magnussen ended his race.

Antonelli and Max Verstappen have been touted to replace Hamilton

James Vowles says Antonelli won't drive for Williams in Imola

Wolff distances Mercedes after FIA confirm request

The FIA, however, have confirmed that they received a request to grant Antonelli special dispensation

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has denied the super license rumours

Ted Kravitz, though, has revealed that Mercedes are not behind this.

He said: “I asked Toto [Wolff] about this and he said, ‘No, we have not asked’.

“I don’t think he was playing with words here, [as in] ‘we have not asked the FIA give Kimi Antonelli a super licence which would enable him of course, to race in Formula 1, for what team we don’t know, this year, before his 18th birthday in late August.

Kravitz added: “So, I don’t know where that story has come from, but it has been denied by Toto Wolff”.

Mercedes FIA Toto Wolff Williams Logan Sargeant Kimi Antonelli