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 British driver will start the race from the back of the grid after his team imposed a power‑unit component penalty, a repercussion of the reliability problems that plagued the early part of the season.
The home‑grown Italian, Antonelli, knows that his comfortable lead in the drivers' standings is likely to shrink dramatically this weekend. Mercedes have elected to take a grid‑penalty for him because the car has exceeded the allowed number of power‑unit elements, a decision that forces him to line up at the very rear of the field regardless of how fast he goes in qualifying.
At the moment, Russell and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc sit 59 points behind Antonelli, while McLaren’s Lando Norris, who has won the previous two rounds, trails by 83 points. Because Antonelli is already aware that his qualifying result will not affect his starting position, he has offered to help Russell chase pole by providing a slip‑stream, or "tow", on the high‑speed straights of Monza. The plan is to let Russell follow closely behind Antonelli’s car, thereby reducing aerodynamic drag and gaining a few tenths of a second per lap – a crucial advantage on the sport’s fastest circuit.
When asked about the arrangement at Thursday’s drivers’ press conference, Antonelli confirmed that the team had discussed the tactic. "We’ve spoken with the engineers and agreed on a few options," he said.
"If the team asks me to give Russell a tow, I’ll do it. Of course I would still love to set the fastest time in Q3, but I know I’ll be starting at the back, so helping the team is the priority." Russell praised Antonelli’s willingness to cooperate, saying it reflects the collaborative culture that Mercedes has cultivated under team principal Toto Wolff. "It shows the level of teamwork we have right now," Russell explained. "Both of us came through the junior programme together, so it’s only natural that we look out for each other.
At Zandvoort last week the tow worked well, and if the roles were reversed we would have done the same. This week he’s ready to help me in qualifying, which is exactly how we operate as a team." The British driver also hinted that he will have to serve his own penalty for excessive engine usage at a future event, possibly the overtaking‑friendly Baku City Circuit three weeks from now.
"I’ll take a penalty sometime later – I just don’t know when or where yet," he added. While Antonelli’s grid drop gives him a chance to claw back points after falling 59 points behind at the Dutch Grand Prix, Russell stressed that his own mindset remains unchanged. "My focus is always on my own performance, my limits and the areas I need to improve," he said. "It doesn’t matter whether my teammate is a seven‑time champion, a rookie, or anyone else – the job stays the same.
My approach this weekend will be exactly the same as always." On Friday’s practice sessions, Russell posted the fastest lap, while Antonelli, concentrating on long‑run race simulations, finished third. Mercedes have dominated the opening half of the season, but recent races have seen Ferrari and now McLaren close the gap.
Russell believes the high‑speed layout of Monza will suit the Mercedes W17 better than the tighter circuits of the previous two rounds, which were both won by McLaren, yet he acknowledges that all three of their main rivals remain serious threats. "We’ve won two of the last six races, so we can say what we want, but the proof will come on Sunday," Russell remarked. "There will be fierce competition. The momentum is with McLaren right now, Ferrari have brought upgrades, and Red Bull have a very strong power unit.
I think this weekend could be a four‑team battle, and I hope it’s us." Reflecting on his recent win in Austria, Russell added, "Looking at the last few races, McLaren have been the team to beat. 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.
After Zandvoort we felt positive as a team – a P2, a P3 and a sprint win were probably more valuable than outright car performance that weekend." When asked about Mercedes’ chances of securing their first Monza victory since 2018, Russell was cautious but optimistic. "I can’t say we’re outright favourites, but we have a better chance than in the last two events where chassis performance mattered more than power‑unit output. We still have the best chassis on the grid, and that should help us in the upcoming races.
Red Bull’s power unit is strong, Ferrari have fresh upgrades, and the circuit plays to their strengths as well, so a four‑team contest looks likely." The weekend schedule includes a Formula 3 sprint on Saturday morning, followed by the final practice session for the Grand Prix, a Formula 2 sprint, and the qualifying session itself, which starts at 3 pm. Sunday’s program features the F3 feature race, the F2 feature race, a Porsche Supercup event, and the main Grand Prix race, with post‑race analysis slated for later in the afternoon. Fans can watch the entire Monza weekend live on Sky Sports F1 or stream the coverage via NOW, which offers a contract‑free option that can be cancelled at any time.
The Italian Grand Prix marks Ferrari’s home race, and the atmosphere at Monza is always electric, promising another thrilling chapter in the 2026 Formula 1 championship.