Mercedes have denied reports they want an exemption from the FIA to award Andrea Kimi Antonelli a superlicence to drive in F1, but Toto Wolff has sparked rumours the Italian will join for 2025.

Antonelli is 17 but turns 18 on August 25 this year, and already has enough superlicence points to race in F1, with only age stopping him.

“I guess for the Italians it’s super exciting to have Lewis Hamilton in red next year. We will get used to the outfits, but we have got to look at ourselves,” said Wolff.

“Maybe there is an option that we shine more with an Italian in our car, so we’re pushing back hard.”