Kimi Antonelli is prepared to lend a hand to his Mercedes teammate and championship contender George Russell during qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix, a weekend in which the title leader will be forced to start from the back of the grid because of an engine‑related penalty. The young Italian, racing on his home circuit at Monza, knows that the comfortable points cushion he has built up this season is likely to be eroded this weekend. Mercedes have elected to take a grid‑drop for Antonelli after exceeding the allowed number of power‑unit components, a decision rooted in the reliability problems the team endured earlier in the year. At present, both Russell and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc sit 59 points behind Antonelli, while McLaren’s Lando Norris – the victor of the last two races – trails by 83 points.
Because Antonelli is already aware that, regardless of his qualifying performance on Saturday, he will line up at the very rear of the field, he has signalled his willingness to help Russell chase pole position. The plan involves providing a slip‑stream, or "tow", for the senior Mercedes driver on the sport’s fastest track, thereby boosting straight‑line speed and shaving valuable tenths off lap times. "It has been discussed with the team," Antonelli told reporters at Thursday’s Drivers’ Press Conference when asked about the tow.
"And, yes, we have agreed on a few things. So let’s see how the session develops. If the team asks me to do it, I will do it. Of course I would love to fight for pole and set the fastest Q3 time, but I know I’m starting at the back, so my priority is to help the team." Russell praised Antonelli’s readiness to cooperate, saying it reflects the collaborative culture that Mercedes has cultivated under team principal Toto Wolff.
The British driver is also due to serve his own grid penalty for excessive engine usage at a future event, possibly the overtaking‑friendly Baku City Circuit three weeks from now. "It just shows the level of teamwork we have between the two of us and how Toto wants to run the team," Russell explained.
"We both came up through the junior programme together, so it’s the least we can do for each other. At Zandvoort last week the tow worked well, and if the roles were reversed the same would have happened.
This week he’s willing to help me in qualifying, which is great – that’s just how we operate as a team. I’ll take my penalty later, I just don’t know when or where." While Antonelli’s penalty gives him a rare opportunity to claw back ground in the championship after falling 59 points behind at the Dutch Grand Prix, Russell stressed that the situation does not alter his personal approach. "For me it doesn’t change anything – I always focus on my own performance, my limitations and the areas I need to improve," he said.
"Whether my teammate is a seven‑time world champion, a rookie, or anyone else, the job remains the same. My mindset will be exactly the same this weekend." Mercedes have dominated the early part of the season, but their advantage has narrowed as Ferrari and now McLaren have begun to challenge. Russell remains optimistic that Monza’s high‑speed layout will suit the W17 better than the recent circuits where McLaren secured victories, but he acknowledges that all three of their main rivals will still pose serious threats.
"We’ve won two races in the last six, so we can say what we want, but we’ll find out soon enough," he added. "There will be tough competition. The momentum is with McLaren right now, Ferrari have upgrades this weekend, and Red Bull have a very strong power unit. I think this weekend it could be any of the top four teams – but I hope it’s us." Reflecting on his own recent win in Austria, Russell noted the rising form of McLaren and its driver Lando Norris.
"Looking at the last couple of races, it’s clear McLaren is the team to beat at the moment. We know we’re a step behind in terms of upgrades, but we hope to get back to being the team to beat in a few races.
For now, the battle is between McLaren and Ferrari, who have brought upgrades this weekend. We left Zandvoort with a positive feeling – a P2, a P3 and a Sprint win were probably better than a perfect car performance." When asked about Mercedes’ chances of securing a first Monza victory since 2018, Russell was cautious but hopeful.
"I can’t say we’re the favourites, but we probably have a better chance than in the last two races where chassis performance mattered more than power units," he said. "We have the best chassis, and I think that will help us in the upcoming races. Red Bull’s power unit is strong, and Ferrari have upgrades, so it could be a four‑team fight this weekend." The weekend schedule includes a full programme of support races, from Formula 3 and Formula 2 practice sessions to the F3 Sprint, F2 Sprint and the main Formula 1 qualifying and race.
Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports F1 or stream via NOW, with no long‑term contract required. In summary, Antonelli’s grid penalty transforms him from a potential points‑scorer into a strategic asset for Mercedes, offering a slip‑stream that could boost Russell’s qualifying effort.
Both drivers emphasise the team‑first mentality that underpins Mercedes’ approach, even as the championship battle tightens and rivals close the gap. The Monza Grand Prix promises to be a decisive test of chassis performance, engine power and teamwork, with the possibility of a four‑way contest for victory among Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren.