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PIT + PADDOCK Mercedes denies Williams debut plan for Antonelli FORMULA 1 A 2024 Formula 1 race debut for Mercedes protege Andrea Kimi Antonelli is looking increasingly unlikely after Mercedes dismissed the idea of fast-tracking him into a Williams seat. Antonelli is being evaluated by Mercedes as an option to replace Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton for 2025, and is dovetailing his rookie Formula 2 campaign at Prema Racing with private testing in the Brackley team’s previous F1 cars. Over the Miami Grand Prix weekend it emerged that the FIA had received a dispensation request to grant Antonelli a superlicence before he reaches the minimum age of 18, fuelling speculation that the Italian might be in line for a grand prix debut this summer. Antonelli does not turn 18 until the end of August, and would need special approval by various FIA safety bodies to make his debut before his birthday. It is understood that Williams was behind the request as team boss James Vowles weighs up his options on Logan Sargeant’s seat alongside Alex Albon. But speaking to Autosport, Wolff has completely ruled out the idea that Antonelli could be debuting in F1 any time soon, saying there is no interest from Mercedes in changing its original plans for him. “The dispensation was something that wasn’t brought up by us and we have certainly stated from the beginning that that was not something we have pursued,” Wolff said. “I don’t know where this belief comes from that Mercedes was keen on pushing that forward. Kimi needs to concentrate on his F2 campaign and he knows that. Everything else is just rumours, which continue to spin around and that are factually incorrect. He’s an F2 driver for Prema, that is what he’s doing, and this is what we’re all concentrating on.” Wolff stressed that Mercedes would remain careful not to burn Antonelli by promoting him too early, given his rapid rise through the junior series and his lack of experience. “Just 15 [18] months ago, he was in an F4 car,” he said. “We have great belief in Kimi, his abilities and also his future. But there is a trajectory which we need to follow with diligence, rather than trying to dream about jumping from series to series in a way that is certainly not beneficial for him. Kimi and driving in Imola [this weekend]? This is not going to happen. This is not something that Mercedes wants. We as a team have lots of other issues to resolve.” Wolff indicated that Mercedes was happy with the progress Antonelli is making, comparing favourably to Ferrari’s highly rated Jeddah debutant and F2 team-mate Ollie Bearman. Last month, he FIA was asked for dispensation for 17-year-old Italian IMAGES GALLOWAY/MOTORSPORT also completed a maiden F1 test with the 2021 Mercedes W12 at the Red Bull Ring, followed by an Imola test in the more recent but trickier-to-drive 2022 W13. “It’s completely on the trajectory that we expected,” Wolff said about his protege’s progress. “That is what we have planned before the season, a solid F2 campaign and testing for Mercedes, and we will continue to just do this. Everything else is just a distraction for all of us.” Sargeant, who struggled for consistency during his 2023 rookie season but was given a second chance this year, said he was in frequent communication with Vowles over the targets Williams has set for him. Asked if there had been discussions with Williams over the security of his seat, Sargeant replied: “No, I wouldn’t say so. I talked to James internally. I talked to my managers. That’s all internal talk. I’m not going to say anything. I’m just doing my job the best I can.” The minimum age limit, as well as F1’s current superlicence points system, was introduced in the wake of Max Verstappen’s debut at the age of 17 in 2015. Now a three-time world champion with Red Bull, Verstappen said he is not a fan of the rule. “I’m not a big fan of it, of this entire system,” he said. “The FIA thinks it’s good, but I’d rather not have it. If someone is 17 or 18 years old and has maybe 20 points [of the 40 required], but if he is very fast, why can’t he get into Formula 1 then?” FILIP CLEEREN Sargeant has had a tough time at Williams IMAGES MOTORSPORT 4 AUTOSPORT.COM 16 MAY 2024
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No spray! But it’s dry at this section IIN STEFAN ALESSANDRO Ferrari trials new spray-guard system for FIA FORMULA 1 The Ferrari Formula 1 team has trialled a more aggressive spray-guard system in an FIA test at its Fiorano track. Last Thursday’s test was part of an ongoing effort by F1’s governing body to reduce spray thrown up by cars in the rain, improving visibility and safety. Photos from the test showed Charles Leclerc’s brother Arthur driving the 2023 Ferrari SF-75 with fully covered full-wet tyres. The guards include two holes in front but are fully covered at the back. The squad’s reserve driver Ollie Bearman ran behind Leclerc in a 2024 car to check the visibility. The FIA had run the first version of the spray guards at a Silverstone test last year, but that was not considered a success. Ferrari also used a filming day on Friday to shake down its new aero package for this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola. Meanwhile, Ferrari has confirmed the starting date for its most recent Mercedes hires Loic Serra and Jerome d’Ambrosio. As revealed by Autosport, Serra will join Ferrari in what has since been defined as head of chassis performance engineering, reporting to technical director Enrico Cardile. Both teams have now settled on a 1 October starting date for Serra. Former Virgin and Lotus F1 driver d’Ambrosio will join on the same date, as deputy team principal to Fred Vasseur and head of its driver academy. The Belgian was previously team principal of Venturi in Formula E. PABLO ELIZALDE & JAKE BOXALL-LEGGE US judiciar y wades into A n d r e t t i c a s e FORMULA 1 The chairman of the United States’ House Judiciary Committee has opened a probe into Liberty Media’s denial of Andretti Global’s entry into Formula 1 in an escalation of political interest. Committee chairman Jim Jordan has written a letter – acquired by American TV network NBC – to Liberty CEO Greg Maffei and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, demanding explanations for the decision-making process that has blocked Andretti’s hopes. Jordan says he wants answers to ensure that no illegal anti-competitive behaviour has taken place. He has demanded all documents and communications relating to the process for evaluating the new team entries and Andretti, and any communications related to Mario and Michael Andretti at launch of Silverstone HQ the new team entry or anti-dilution fees in the Concorde Agreement. Last week, several US Congress members wrote to F1 asking whether or not F1’s actions had put “unreasonable restraints on market competition” that might contravene US laws. Speaking during a press conference outside the US Capitol last week, Mario Andretti said: “We’ve done everything that’s been asked of us. I represented the US proudly in my F1 career. My proudest moments were standing on top of the podium with the American national anthem playing.” F1 declined to comment on the matter when approached by Autosport. JONATHAN NOBLE 16 MAY 2024 AUTOSPORT.COM 5

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No spray! But it’s dry at this section

IIN

STEFAN

ALESSANDRO

Ferrari trials new spray-guard system for FIA FORMULA 1 The Ferrari Formula 1 team has trialled a more aggressive spray-guard system in an FIA test at its Fiorano track.

Last Thursday’s test was part of an ongoing effort by F1’s governing body to reduce spray thrown up by cars in the rain, improving visibility and safety. Photos from the test showed Charles Leclerc’s brother

Arthur driving the 2023 Ferrari SF-75 with fully covered full-wet tyres. The guards include two holes in front but are fully covered at the back. The squad’s reserve driver Ollie Bearman ran behind Leclerc in a 2024 car to check the visibility.

The FIA had run the first version of the spray guards at a Silverstone test last year, but that was not considered a success. Ferrari also used a filming day on Friday to shake down its new aero package for this weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola.

Meanwhile, Ferrari has confirmed the starting date for its most recent Mercedes hires Loic Serra and Jerome d’Ambrosio. As revealed by Autosport, Serra will join Ferrari in what has since been defined as head of chassis performance engineering, reporting to technical director Enrico Cardile. Both teams have now settled on a 1 October starting date for Serra. Former Virgin and Lotus F1 driver d’Ambrosio will join on the same date, as deputy team principal to Fred Vasseur and head of its driver academy. The Belgian was previously team principal of Venturi in Formula E. PABLO ELIZALDE & JAKE BOXALL-LEGGE

US judiciar y wades into A n d r e t t i c a s e FORMULA 1 The chairman of the United States’ House Judiciary Committee has opened a probe into Liberty Media’s denial of Andretti Global’s entry into Formula 1 in an escalation of political interest.

Committee chairman Jim Jordan has written a letter – acquired by American TV network NBC – to Liberty CEO Greg Maffei and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, demanding explanations for the decision-making process that has blocked Andretti’s hopes. Jordan says he wants answers to ensure that no illegal anti-competitive behaviour has taken place. He has demanded all documents and communications relating to the process for evaluating the new team entries and Andretti, and any communications related to

Mario and Michael Andretti at launch of

Silverstone HQ

the new team entry or anti-dilution fees in the Concorde Agreement.

Last week, several US Congress members wrote to F1 asking whether or not F1’s actions had put “unreasonable restraints on market competition” that might contravene US laws. Speaking during a press conference outside the US Capitol last week, Mario Andretti said: “We’ve done everything that’s been asked of us. I represented the US proudly in my F1 career. My proudest moments were standing on top of the podium with the American national anthem playing.” F1 declined to comment on the matter when approached by Autosport. JONATHAN NOBLE

16 MAY 2024 AUTOSPORT.COM 5

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