Alexander Rossi questions FIA ‘exceptions’ after rule change that could help Kimi Antonelli

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Ex-Formula 1 driver Alexander Rossi has responded to the FIA’s decision to allow 17 year-olds to be granted a Super Licence, paving the way for Mercedes prodigy Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Although the minimum age required for an F1 Super Licence is 18 years old, the governing body has updated the International Sporting Code to include a clause that gives dispensation in special circumstances to 17-year-olds.

All drivers on the F1 grid must hold a Super Licence to race, with the FIA demanding that they meet strict criteria to be eligible. In addition to lowering the age limit, it has also omitted the clause that states drivers must obtain a full road licence.

Alexander Rossi took to social media to voice his concerns over the decision to make the changes by the governing body.

READ MORE: Every 2024 F1 driver’s FIA Super Licence cost after Verstappen’s record fee

Andrea Kimi Antonelli could make early F1 debut

Antonelli does not turn 18 until August this year, but the updated rules mean that he might be in line for an early promotion to the Formula 1 grid.

The Italian has been linked to replacing Logan Sargeant midway through the season at Williams after an unnamed team contacted the FIA to request dispensation for him to race in May, via RACER.

His early debut would be a prerequisite before replacing Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes next year, who is leaving the Silver Arrows to join Ferrari in 2025.

Antonelli is currently competing in the F1 feeder series Formula 2 with Prema and sits sixth in the Drivers’ Championship. He recently impressed during two F1 tests with Mercedes in former machinery at the Red Bull Ring and Imola.

Alexander Rossi questions FIA decision

The rule change has sparked some outrage among drivers, particularly those in IndyCar who already felt motorsport’s governing body was undervaluing the American series.

Colton Herta was denied a Super Licence in 2022 after Red Bull tried to get him in, via Formula 1, to replace Pierre Gasly at AlphaTauri. The American was refused on the basis that he did not have the required 40 points obtained through competing in junior formula categories.

IndyCar does contribute to the Super Licence system, but the points distribution is vastly different compared to F2. Drivers who win the championship receive the same amount of points (40), but those who finish fourth in F2 still get 30 points compared to 20 in IndyCar.

This was the main difference between Antonelli and Herta’s case, despite the latter arguably holding more experience in a top-flight motorsport series.

IndyCar driver and former Manor F1 racer, Rossi, has taken to social media to question the FIA’s decision: “Oh so exceptions can be made? Huh.”

The decision is only likely to fuel more speculation over whether the current points allocation is fit for purpose and needs revamping, considering former champions Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen would struggle to get on the grid with the current rules.