Kimi Antonelli is prepared to play a supportive role for his Mercedes teammate and championship contender George Russell during the qualifying session at Monza. The British driver will start the race from the back of the grid because Mercedes have exceeded the permitted number of power‑unit components, a penalty that stems from earlier reliability problems this season. The young Italian, who is racing on his home circuit, knows that his comfortable points lead is likely to be eroded this weekend. Mercedes have elected to take a grid‑drop for Antonelli, meaning he will line up at the rear regardless of how fast he goes in Saturday's qualifying.
With that in mind, Antonelli has offered to help Russell chase pole position by providing a slipstream, or tow, on the high‑speed straights of the world’s fastest track. By staying directly behind Russell for a few laps, Antonelli can reduce aerodynamic drag and give the senior driver a measurable boost in straight‑line speed, potentially shaving crucial tenths off a lap time.
"The team and I have discussed the possibility of a tow," Antonelli said at Thursday’s drivers’ press conference. "If the engineers ask me to do it, I’ll do it.
Of course I’d love to fight for the fastest time in Q3 myself, but I know I’ll be starting from the back, so helping the team is the priority." Russell praised Antonelli’s willingness to cooperate, saying it reflects the collaborative culture that Mercedes have cultivated under team principal Toto Wolff. He added that the pair have been part of the same junior programme from the start of their careers, which makes such teamwork feel natural.
"Last week at Zandvoort it worked well, and if the roles were reversed the outcome would be the same. This week he’s ready to give me a tow in qualifying – that’s just how we operate as a team," Russell explained. He also hinted that he, too, will face a grid penalty later in the season, possibly at the overtaking‑friendly Baku circuit three weeks from now. While Antonelli’s penalty gives him a chance to claw back ground in the championship after falling 59 points behind Russell at the Dutch Grand Prix, Russell stressed that his own focus remains unchanged.
"I always concentrate on my own performance, my own limits and the areas I need to improve. It doesn’t matter if my teammate is a seven‑time world champion, a rookie, or anyone else – the job stays the same," he said. Russell’s approach to the weekend will therefore be identical to any other: extract the maximum from the car and the circuit, regardless of the starting position.
In the Friday practice session, Russell set the fastest time, while Antonelli, concentrating on long‑run race simulations, finished 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 nature of Monza will suit the Mercedes W17 more than the tighter, twistier tracks that have recently favored their rivals, yet he acknowledges that Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull will all be serious threats. "We’ve won two of the last six races, so we can say what we want, but the real test will be this weekend," Russell said.
"McLaren have the momentum right now, Ferrari have new parts, and Red Bull’s power unit is still extremely strong. It could be a four‑team battle, but I hope it’s us." Reflecting on the recent form of his competitors, Russell noted that Lando Norris and McLaren have been the team to beat, especially after their dominant performances at Zandvoort.
"We know we’re a step behind in terms of upgrades, but we aim to get back to being the benchmark in a few races. For now, the fight is between McLaren and Ferrari, who both have fresh upgrades this weekend," he added.
Regarding Mercedes’ chances of finally winning at Monza – their first victory there since 2018 – Russell was cautious but optimistic. "We may not be outright favourites, but the chassis looks stronger than it has in the last two rounds, where power unit performance mattered more. If we can combine that with a good strategy and perhaps a tow from Kimi, we have a real shot," he explained. He also reminded everyone that Red Bull’s power unit remains a formidable factor and that Ferrari’s new parts could level the playing field.
The weekend schedule is packed. On Saturday, the day begins with an F3 sprint at 8:25 am, followed by the third practice session for the Grand Prix at 11:30 am. After a brief F2 sprint, qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix starts at 2 pm, with a final qualifying notebook released at 5 pm.
Sunday features the F3 feature race, the F2 feature race, a Porsche Supercup event, and the main Grand Prix itself, which kicks off at 2 pm and concludes with the chequered flag and post‑race analysis. Fans can watch every session live on Sky Sports F1, streamed via the NOW platform, which offers a contract‑free option that can be cancelled at any time. The Italian Grand Prix, held at Ferrari’s home circuit, promises high‑speed drama, strategic intrigue, and the chance for a young driver to demonstrate his team‑first attitude while a seasoned champion fights to keep his title hopes alive.