Kimi Antonelli is preparing to play a supporting role for his Mercedes teammate and championship contender George Russell during the qualifying session for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The race weekend comes with a twist for the young Italian driver: because his power‑unit has exceeded the allowed component limit, Mercedes have elected to take a grid‑drop penalty that will force Antonelli to start from the very back of the field, regardless of how fast he goes in qualifying. The penalty stems from a series of reliability problems that plagued the team earlier in the season, prompting them to replace more engine parts than the regulations normally permit. As a result, Antonelli’s healthy points cushion – he sits 59 points behind both Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton – is likely to be eroded over the weekend as the Mercedes team sacrifices his starting position to protect the championship fight.
Knowing that his own grid slot is already predetermined, Antonelli has indicated that he is ready to help Russell achieve the best possible qualifying result, potentially even a pole position, by providing a slipstream or "tow" on the long straights of Monza. The high‑speed nature of the circuit makes a clean aerodynamic wake especially valuable, and a well‑timed tow can shave tenths of a second off a lap, turning a solid qualifying effort into a front‑row start.
When asked about the plan at Thursday’s drivers’ press conference, Antonelli confirmed that the team had discussed the possibility and that he would comply if asked. "It has been discussed with the team," he said, "and yes, we have agreed on a few things. We'll see how the session develops, but if the team asks me to do it, I will do it.
Of course I would love to set the fastest time in Q3, but I know I'm starting at the back, so helping the team is the priority." Russell praised Antonelli’s willingness to assist, saying it reflected the collaborative culture that Mercedes has cultivated under team principal Toto Wolff. "It shows the level of teamwork we have between the two of us and how Toto wants to run the team," Russell explained. He added that the arrangement mirrors what happened at the previous race in Zandvoort, where the drivers swapped roles and benefited from each other's slipstreams. The British driver also hinted that he, too, will face a penalty for excessive engine usage at a future event, possibly at the overtaking‑friendly Baku City Circuit three weeks from now.
"I will be taking a penalty at some point in the future. When and where I don’t know," he said, underscoring that both drivers are prepared to make sacrifices for the greater good of the team.
While Antonelli’s penalty could give him a chance to claw back points after falling 59 points behind at the Dutch Grand Prix, Russell emphasized that his personal focus remains unchanged. "For me it doesn’t change anything because I always want to focus on myself, my limitations and the areas I want to improve," he said.
"It doesn’t matter if my teammate is a seven‑time world champion, a rookie, or anyone else – the job stays the same." Mercedes entered the season with a dominant car, the W17, but recent weeks have seen Ferrari and McLaren close the gap. At Monza, Russell is optimistic that the high‑speed layout will suit the Mercedes chassis better than the tighter circuits of the previous two rounds, which were won by McLaren. Nevertheless, he acknowledges that Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull remain serious threats. "We’ve won two races in the last six, so we can say whatever we want, but we’ll soon find out," Russell said.
"The momentum is with McLaren right now, Ferrari have upgrades this weekend, and Red Bull have a very strong power unit. I honestly think this weekend it can be between any of the top four teams – but I hope it’s us." He also reflected on the team's performance at Zandvoort, noting that a second‑place finish, a third place, and a sprint race win were perhaps more indicative of the car’s potential than outright race wins.
"We came away from Zandvoort with a very positive weekend as a team," Russell added. "A P2, a P3 and a sprint win was probably better than a true car performance." Looking ahead to the possibility of a Mercedes victory at Monza – the first for the team since 2018 – Russell tempered expectations.
"I don’t know if we can call ourselves favourites this weekend, but we probably have a greater opportunity than we had in the last two races, where it was less about the power unit and more about the chassis," he explained. "We think we have the best chassis, and we hope to prove it in the upcoming races.
Red Bull’s power unit is strong, Ferrari have upgrades, and the circuit suits them too, so it could be a four‑team battle." The weekend schedule is packed with support series action, starting with Formula 3 practice on Friday morning, followed by Formula 2 sessions, and culminating in the F1 qualifying session at 3 pm on Saturday. The race itself is slated for Sunday afternoon, with additional coverage including the F1 Show, team boss press conferences and post‑race analysis.
For fans wanting to watch live, the Italian Grand Prix will be broadcast on Sky Sports F1, and streaming is available via NOW without a long‑term contract. The event marks Ferrari’s home race, adding extra excitement for the Italian crowd, but Mercedes hopes that the combined effort of Russell and Antonelli – even with the latter starting from the back – will give them the best possible chance to fight for victory at the historic Monza circuit.