Kimi Antonelli will receive a hefty grid penalty at next weekend's Italian Grand Prix, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has confirmed. The 20-year-old, currently leading the Drivers' Championship by 59 points over George Russell after winning six races in 2026, will line up at the very back of the starting grid at Monza due to a full engine change.
Mercedes prioritise championship over home race
Wolff explained the decision, stating: "With Kimi, we're taking the full thing. Our calculations say that that's the best track to take it. Obviously, algorithms don't take their nationality into consideration. We're here to fight for a championship and not get the most PR. So yeah, that's what we're going to do."
The penalty is a bitter blow for Antonelli, who would love to become the first Italian driver to win at Monza since Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966. However, the long straights at the Temple of Speed should allow him to weave through the pack more effectively than at other venues, potentially making it a shrewd strategic move if rivals are forced to take penalties at less optimal circuits later in the season.
Antonelli concedes McLaren have overtaken Mercedes
The news follows Antonelli's admission that Mercedes no longer have the fastest car on the grid, believing McLaren have surpassed them. Speaking after the Dutch Grand Prix, he said: "We're probably second or third, at least in today's race, and McLaren has taken a huge step, especially since Hungary, since the big upgrade package they brought. But I'm confident with the team. The team has been working super hard on this next package that is coming up and they just want to make sure that it's going to work out well once we put it on. So for sure, in this race, it's going to be more difficult, it's going to be challenging, but we're ready to do our best and to maximise every opportunity."
