Rising star has handed his driving take a look at simply six weeks earlier than he makes his Components One debut for on the .
The 18-year-old, who’s changing after the seven-time world champion opted to maneuver to Ferrari, was pictured in a Mercedes sitting in a driving college automobile giving a thumbs as much as the digicam, accompanied by the caption: “Mission accomplished.”
In earlier years, drivers have been required to carry a sound driver’s license for the nation listed as their nationality so as to qualify for a , which permits them to compete in F1. They’ve additionally needed to be 18 or older.
The rule was launched in 2016, after made his F1 debut for Toro Rosso on the Australian Grand Prix the earlier yr aged 17 years and 166 days. Verstappen was concerned in quite a few collisions early in his profession, together with a high-speed crash with Lotus driver Romain Grosjean on the Monaco Grand Prix within the Dutchman’s rookie season. His earlier incidents haven’t hampered the Purple Bull man in any respect although, as he has gone on to win the world drivers’ championship 4 consecutive years.
Nonetheless, the laws had been altered final yr amid efforts from Mercedes to permit Antonelli to take part in F1 observe classes forward of his 18th birthday on August 25, 2024.
The clause requiring the likes of Antonelli to carry a driver’s license was eliminated, and a allowed particular dispensation to be given to 17-year-old drivers “judged to have not too long ago and persistently demonstrated excellent capacity and maturity in single-seater system automobile competitors.”
“The president of the FIA all the time had the flexibility and discretion of letting a driver drive, if you happen to imagine that the efficiency was adequate,” stated Mercedes F1 Workforce CEO Toto Wolff, per , in June.
“I feel the change of laws isn’t (about) Antonelli, it’s typically to make it possible for drivers with the appropriate pedigree, CVs, success and maturity are in a position to race in F1, moderately than a start date. I feel that was the appropriate resolution.”
Antonelli subsequently made his free observe debut on the Italian Grand Prix, momentarily recording the quickest lap earlier than struggling a high-speed crash after 12 minutes. Regardless of vital injury to the automobile, he walked away unscathed.
The rookie will start preseason testing alongside teammate George Russell in Bahrain on February 26. Mercedes might be hoping the pair can enhance upon the workforce’s exhibiting in 2024, when it completed a distant fourth within the Constructors’ Championship, its worst end in 12 years.
However, nevertheless Antonelli performs in his debut season, a minimum of he’ll have the ability to drive dwelling from the airport.
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