Mercedes protege Andrea Kimi Antonelli could make his F1 debut before he turns 1🦩8 after an FIA rule change.

The 17-year-old Italian has been tipped as one of the leading candidates to replace 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes nextꦅ season, despite oꦏnly being in his first Formula 2 campaign this year.

Recent private testing in previous Mercedes F1 c๊ars sparked rumours that the team were preparing Antonelli for an early grand prix debut.

Speculation only intensified wh♉en it emerged the FIA had received a request at the start of May to grant Antonelli a super licence under special dispensation.

This led to wild suggestions that Antonelli could replace Williams’168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Logan Sargeant at t𝕴he ♋Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, but this was quickly dismissed by team principal James Vowles.

However, the FIA has now made tweaks to the r🌱ules🦩 which open the door for Antonelli to his F1 debut at the age of 17.

This does not necessarily mean that Antonelli, who doesn’t turn 18 until August, will🐬 take part in a full race wee🐬kend. A team could simply run him in a practice session only.

Article 13.1.2 of Appendix L of thꦑe FIA International📖 Sporting Code has been updated and now reads: "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 outperformed Prema teammate Oliver Bearman, who impressed on his F1 d🙈ebut with Ferrari at the Saudi Arabi☂an Grand Prix, and currently lies sixth in the championship, 32 points behind series leader Paul Aron.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has indicated that the team’s favoured option is to promote Antonelli into a works’ seat next year, having ruled out a move for outgoing Ferrari driver168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Carlos Sainz.

"He [Carlos Sainz] has done a fantastic jo🏅b but for us, we've embarked on a route now, we want to reinvent ourselves a little bit going forward. And Kimi Antonelli definitely plays a part in that,” Wolff said at the Cಌanadian Grand Prix.

“We haven't taken the decision yet for next ♉year but we didn't want to ꦅhave Carlos wait as well, because he needs to take the decisions for himself and that's just fair.”