Kimi Antonelli is gearing up to support his Mercedes teammate and championship contender George Russell during the qualifying session for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The race weekend will see the world‑leader start from the very back of the grid because of a power‑unit component penalty, and Antonelli’s role could prove crucial in helping the team secure a strong starting position. The young Italian driver, who hails from the very circuit where the event will be held, knows that his comfortable points cushion 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 elements, a decision that stems from reliability problems the team endured earlier in the season.
As a result, Antonelli will be forced to start from the rear regardless of how fast he manages to set a lap on Saturday. With that reality firmly in mind, Antonelli has signalled his willingness to act as a tow‑car for Russell during the final qualifying phase. By positioning his car directly ahead of the senior driver on the long straights of Monza, Antonelli can generate a slipstream that reduces aerodynamic drag and gives Russell a measurable boost in straight‑line speed. This technique, often referred to as a "draft" or "tow," can shave tenths of a second off a lap time and may be the difference between a pole‑position start and a mid‑grid slot.
When asked about the plan at Thursday’s drivers’ press conference, Antonelli confirmed that the team had already discussed the possibility. "It has been discussed with the team, and yes, we have agreed on a few things," he said. "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, but I know I’m starting at the back, so helping the team is the priority." Russell praised Antonelli’s attitude, saying it reflected the collaborative culture that Mercedes has cultivated under team principal Toto Wolff. "It shows the level of teamwork we have right now between the two of us and how Toto wants to run the team," Russell explained.
He added that the arrangement had already proven effective at the previous round in Zandvoort, where the drivers swapped roles and both benefited from each other's slipstream. The British driver also hinted that he will face his own penalty later in the season for exceeding his own component limits, possibly at the overtaking‑friendly Baku City Circuit in three weeks’ time. "I will be taking a penalty at some point in the future – when and where I don’t know yet," he admitted. Despite Antonelli’s grid‑drop giving him a chance to claw back points after falling 59 points behind the championship leader at the Dutch Grand Prix, Russell maintained that his personal focus remains unchanged.
"For me it doesn’t change anything because I always want to focus on myself, on my limitations and the areas I want to improve," he said. "Whether my teammate is a seven‑time world champion, a rookie, or anyone else, the job is the same." In practice on Friday, Russell posted the fastest time, while Antonelli, concentrating on longer race‑pace runs, finished third.
The two drivers continue to dominate the drivers’ standings, but the early‑season supremacy Mercedes enjoyed has been challenged in recent months. Ferrari have finally found pace, and McLaren, after a strong showing in the last two races, are now firmly in the mix. Looking ahead to the high‑speed Monza layout, Russell expressed optimism that the circuit’s characteristics will suit the Mercedes W17 better than the tighter tracks of Zandvoort and Spa.
Nevertheless, he warned that all three of their main rivals – Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull – remain serious threats. "We’ve won two races in the last six, so we can say what we want, but we’ll soon find out," he said. "The momentum is with McLaren right now, Ferrari have upgrades this weekend, and Red Bull have a very strong power unit. I think it can be a four‑team race this weekend, but I hope it’s us." Russell reflected on the recent form of his competitors, noting that Lando Norris and McLaren have been the team to beat.
"When you look at the past couple of races and how competitive Lando and McLaren have been, it’s definitely fair to say they are the team to beat right now," he said. "We know we’re an upgrade behind most, and we hope we can get back to being the team to beat in a few races. For now the fight is between McLaren and Ferrari, who have upgrades this weekend." He also commented on Mercedes’ chances of ending a winless streak at Monza that dates back to 2018.
"I don’t know if we can call ourselves favourites, but we probably have a greater opportunity than we did in the last two races, where it was more about the chassis than the power unit," Russell explained. "We still have the best chassis, and we think we’ll be competitive in the upcoming races. Red Bull’s power unit is strong, Ferrari have upgrades, so it could be a four‑team battle." The weekend schedule is packed: Friday will feature F3 and F2 sprint races, followed by the final practice session and the qualifying build‑up.
Saturday’s agenda includes the qualifying session itself, a sprint race, and a “Ted’s Qualifying Notebook” segment. Sunday will host the F3 and F2 feature races, the Porsche Supercup, and the main Grand Prix, with post‑race analysis and reaction later in the afternoon.
Fans can watch the entire programme live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available through the NOW platform. The Italian Grand Prix marks Ferrari’s home race, and while the Scuderia will be looking to capitalize on the home advantage, Mercedes hope that Antonelli’s willingness to tow Russell will provide the extra edge needed to challenge for pole and, ultimately, the race win.