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The FIA has granted its first exemption to the rule preventing drivers from competing in Formula 1 before they turn 18 years old.
The World Motor Sport Council approved a request from Red Bull to provide a superlicence to its 17-year-old junior driver Arvid Lindblad.
The FIA revised the International Sporting Code last year to allow for dispensations to be granted to F1’s 18-year age limit.
“The driver must be at least 18 years old at the start of the event of his first F1 competition,” states the rule. “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 superlicence at the age of 17 years old.”
Lindblad, who turns 18 in August, won four Formula 3 races as a rookie last year on his way to fourth in the championship. After winning the Formula Regional Oceania series this year he made a strong start to his first season in Formula 2. He is currently third in the championship, eight points off the lead, having won twice.
The WMSC agreed the 17-year-old fulfils the standard for a dispensation. “After considering the information presented in support of this request, the World Council found that the driver has recently and consistently demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity in single-seater formula car competition and therefore approved the request,” it stated.
Red Bull may be preparing to offer Lindblad an F1 debut for a number of reasons. It has already replaced Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda this year, but their new driver has only scored seven points in seven rounds.
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The team therefore may be considering promoting Isack Hadjar from its junior F1 squad Racing Bulls, in which case Lindblad could be his replacement. Red Bull also needs a fallback option available in case Max Verstappen collects a one-race ban, which will happen if he picks up one more penalty point in either of the next two rounds.
The FIA WMSC also announced it will award two superlicence points to the winner of the Formula 4 World Cup.
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