Kimi Antonelli has confirmed that he will support his Mercedes teammate and championship contender George Russell during qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The British driver will start the race from the back of the grid because Mercedes have exceeded the allowed number of power‑unit components on his car, a penalty that stems from reliability problems earlier in the season. The young Italian, who is racing on his home circuit, knows that his comfortable points lead in the drivers' standings is likely to shrink this weekend.
Mercedes have elected to take a grid‑drop for Antonelli, meaning he will line up at the very rear regardless of how fast he goes in the qualifying session. With his own result essentially predetermined, Antonelli is willing to use his position to help Russell chase pole position by providing a slipstream – commonly known as a "tow" – on the high‑speed straights of Monza. The aerodynamic benefit of following closely behind another car can shave tenths of a second off lap times, a crucial advantage on the sport’s fastest venue.
When asked about the plan at Thursday’s drivers’ press conference, Antonelli said, "We have discussed it with the team and we have agreed on a few things. We'll see how the session unfolds, but if the team asks me to give Russell a tow, I will do it.
Of course I would love to set the fastest time in Q3, but I know I am starting at the back, so my priority is to help the team. If I can do anything to benefit the squad, I will do it." Russell praised Antonelli’s readiness to cooperate, saying it reflects the collaborative culture that Mercedes have cultivated under team principal Toto Wolff. "It shows the level of teamwork we have between us and the way Toto wants the team to operate," the Briton explained. He added that the two drivers have been part of the junior programme from the beginning of their careers, making it natural to look out for each other.
"Last week at Zandvoort the tow worked well, and if the roles were reversed the same would happen. This week he is willing to help me in qualifying, which is great – that’s just how we operate as a team," Russell said. He also hinted that he will face his own grid penalty later in the season, possibly at the overtaking‑friendly Baku circuit three weeks from now. While Antonelli’s penalty gives him a rare opportunity to claw back points after falling 59 points behind Russell at the Dutch Grand Prix, Russell insisted the situation does not alter his personal focus.
"I always concentrate on my own performance, my limits and the areas I need to improve. Whether my teammate is a seven‑time world champion, a rookie, or anyone else, the job remains the same. My approach this weekend will be exactly the same," he stated.
In practice on Friday, Russell topped the timing sheets, with Antonelli, who was concentrating on long‑run race simulations, finishing third. Mercedes have dominated the early part of the season, but their advantage has narrowed as Ferrari introduced upgrades and McLaren surged forward, winning the last two races.
Russell believes the high‑speed layout of Monza will suit the Mercedes W17 better than the recent street‑type circuits, yet he acknowledges that Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull will all be serious threats. "We have won two of the last six races, so we can say what we want, but we’ll find out soon enough. The competition will be fierce," Russell said.
He noted that McLaren currently has the momentum, Ferrari is bringing new parts to Monza, and Red Bull’s power unit remains among the strongest on the grid. "I think this weekend it could be a four‑team battle – Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull – but I hope it’s us." Reflecting on his recent form, Russell recalled his last victory at the Austrian Grand Prix in June and praised McLaren’s recent performances. "Looking at the last few races, Lando and McLaren have been the team to beat right now. We know we are 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 fight is between McLaren and Ferrari, who have brought upgrades this weekend," he explained. Regarding Mercedes’ chances of securing a first Monza win since 2018, Russell was cautiously optimistic. "I can’t say we are favourites, but we probably have a better chance than in the last two races where chassis performance mattered more than the power unit. We still have the best chassis, and I think that will help us in the upcoming events.
Red Bull’s power unit is strong, and Ferrari’s upgrades will make it a four‑team contest." The weekend schedule includes a Formula 3 sprint race on Saturday morning, followed by the F2 sprint, then the Italian Grand Prix qualifying session at 3 pm. Sunday will feature the F3 feature race, the F2 feature race, a Porsche Supercup event, and finally the Grand Prix itself, with post‑race analysis and reaction segments later in the afternoon. Fans can stream the action live via Sky Sports F1 or the NOW platform, with no long‑term contract required. Overall, the collaboration between Antonelli and Russell highlights Mercedes’ strategic flexibility.
By using Antonelli’s back‑of‑grid start to generate a tow for Russell, the team hopes to maximise its qualifying performance at Monza, a circuit where straight‑line speed and aerodynamic efficiency are paramount. Whether this tactic will translate into a pole position, a podium, or even a long‑awaited victory remains to be seen, but the willingness of both drivers to support each other underscores the unity that has defined Mercedes’ recent success.