Kimi Antonelli is prepared 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 will see the current world‑leader start from the back of the grid because of an engine‑related penalty, and Antonelli’s cooperation could prove crucial. The young Italian driver, who grew up racing on the same circuit, arrives at Monza fully aware that his comfortable points cushion is likely to shrink dramatically this weekend.
Mercedes have elected to take a grid‑drop for Antonelli after exceeding the allotted number of power‑unit components – a repercussion of the reliability problems that plagued the team earlier in the season. Consequently, Antonelli will be forced to start from the rear regardless of how fast he manages to qualify. At present, both Russell and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc sit 59 points behind Antonelli in the drivers' standings, while McLaren’s Lando Norris – who has won the last two events – trails by 83 points. Knowing that his own qualifying result will have no impact on his starting position, Antonelli has indicated that he is willing to help Russell achieve a better grid slot by providing a slip‑stream, or "tow", on the high‑speed sections of the track.
The aerodynamic benefit of following closely behind another car can increase straight‑line speed and shave precious tenths off lap times, a tactic that is especially effective on Monza, the sport’s fastest circuit. When questioned at Thursday’s Drivers’ Press Conference, Antonelli confirmed that the team had discussed the possibility. "It has been discussed with the team," he said.
"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 still love to set the fastest time in Q3, but I know I’m starting at the back anyway." He added, "If I can do anything to help the team, I will do it." Russell praised Antonelli’s willingness to assist, noting that it reflects the collaborative culture fostered within Mercedes. "It shows the level of teamwork we have at the moment between the two of us and how Toto wants to run the team," Russell explained.
"We both came up through the junior programme from the beginning, so it’s the least we can do for each other. At Zandvoort last week it worked well, and if the roles were reversed the same would have happened. This week he’s ready to help me in qualifying, which is great – that’s just how we operate as a team." He also mentioned that he expects to serve his own grid penalty for excessive engine usage at a later event, possibly 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," Russell said.
While Antonelli’s penalty gives him a chance to recover lost championship ground – he fell 59 points behind after the Dutch Grand Prix – Russell insisted that his own approach remains unchanged. "For me it doesn’t change anything because I always want to focus on myself, on my limitations and the areas I need to improve," he stated. "It doesn’t matter if my teammate is a seven‑time world champion, a rookie, or anyone else – the job is the same. My approach this weekend will be exactly the same." During Friday’s practice, Russell topped the timing sheets, while Antonelli, concentrating on long‑run race simulations, posted the third‑fastest time.
Mercedes have dominated the early part of the season, but their advantage has narrowed as Ferrari and McLaren have introduced upgrades and found form. Russell is hopeful that Monza’s high‑speed layout will suit the Mercedes W17 better than the tighter circuits of the previous two races, both of which were won by McLaren.
Nevertheless, he acknowledges that the three main rivals – Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren – will all pose serious threats. "We’ve won two races in the last six, so we can say all we want but we’ll soon find out," he said. "There will be a lot of tough competition.
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." Reflecting on his recent victory in Austria, Russell added, "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.
We know we’re an upgrade behind most, and 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 the upgrades this weekend." He also praised the team’s performance at Zandvoort, noting that a second‑place finish, a third‑place finish, and a sprint win were perhaps more indicative of strong teamwork than outright car speed. Regarding Mercedes’ chances of securing a first Monza victory since 2018, Russell was cautiously optimistic.
"I don’t know if we can call ourselves favourites, but we probably have a better chance than we did in the last two races, where it was more about the chassis than the power unit," he explained. "We have the best chassis, and I think we’ll see that again in the upcoming races. We can’t forget Red Bull have a very strong power unit, and Ferrari have upgrades.
So it could be a four‑team battle this weekend." The weekend schedule includes a Formula 3 sprint race on Saturday morning, followed by the third practice session for the Grand Prix, a Formula 2 sprint, and finally the qualifying session that will set the grid for Sunday’s race. On Sunday, the program continues with a Formula 3 feature race, a Formula 2 feature race, a Porsche Supercup event, and the main Grand Prix itself, with post‑race analysis later in the afternoon. Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW without a long‑term contract.
The Italian Grand Prix promises high‑speed drama, strategic teamwork, and the chance for Mercedes to reclaim the top step of the podium after a challenging start to the season.