Antonelli to start Italian GP from back of grid as Mercedes confirms power unit change

Kimi Antonelli will start the Italian Grand Prix from the back of the grid after Mercedes confirmed a full power unit change for the Formula 1 championship leader ahead of his home race at Monza.

The 19-year-old Italian has already reached the limit of his allowance on his V6 and exhaust system. F1 regulations permit drivers to use up to four power units across a season, and Mercedes’ reliability difficulties in the first half of the campaign made a grid penalty for its drivers a matter of when, not if.

Team principal Toto Wolff confirmed the decision and was direct about the reasoning. “With Kimi we are taking the full thing,” Wolff said, dismissing any suggestion that sentiment around Antonelli racing at his home circuit had influenced the call. “In theory, our calculations say that that’s the best track to take it. Obviously, our algorithms don’t take nationality into consideration. But we are here to fight for a championship and not get the most PR. So, that’s what we are going to do.”

A full power unit switch triggers a back-of-the-grid start under the sport’s technical regulations, meaning Antonelli will face a significant recovery drive at one of the calendar’s most storied venues.

Teammate George Russell is also facing a grid penalty at some point, though Mercedes has yet to decide when. Russell only fitted his fourth power unit at the Hungarian Grand Prix — the final race before the summer break — giving him greater flexibility on mileage than Antonelli currently has. The team retains the option to introduce a fifth unit into his pool of components at any time.

“With George, the discussions are ongoing about where to take it,” Wolff said.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku is considered a candidate for Russell’s penalty, given the street circuit’s emphasis on power unit performance and top speed, as well as its overtaking opportunities that could help offset the disadvantage of starting from the rear.