Wolff explains decision behind Monza engine penalty for Antonelli

Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff revealed in Zandvoort that Kimi Antonelli would be taking a grid penalty for the next round of the championship in Monza as a result of a planned engine change.

The Italian Grand Prix is Antonelli’s home race, but Mercedes believe it is the right decision to take the penalty there, rather than at a later round of the season, to avoid further technical problems such as the one that forced him to retire in Barcelona.

“With Kimi, we're taking the full thing. Our calculations say that that's the best track to take it,” Wolff explained. “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.”

With its long straights Monza should be a circuit that suits the Mercedes power unit, and the Temple of Speed has plenty of overtaking opportunities too – which will no doubt have been a factor in the decision.

Teams have a strict allocation of PU components they can use across a season, with Mercedes having already suffered a number of PU reliability problems this season.

Antonelli's team mate George Russell has also suffered technical issues of his own in Canada and Belgium.

“With George, the discussions are ongoing, if we were to take it,” Wolff continued.

As per the regulations, if a driver uses more power unit elements than the permitted allocation, a grid penalty will be imposed at the first event where each additional element is used.

Monza has thrown up some surprise winners in the past, Pierre Gasly taking victory in 2020 from 10th on the grid, while Daniel Ricciardo won in 2021 for McLaren in what was at the time the fourth fastest car.

Isack Hadjar took on new PU components at Monza last season, and turned a pit lane start into a P10 finish for Racing Bulls. In 2022, Max Verstappen won the race after taking a five-place grid drop, while Lewis Hamilton climbed to fifth from the back of the field.

As such, it is clear to see why Mercedes have picked Monza, even if it is unfortunate that the weekend happens to be Antonelli’s home event. Fans could be treated to an epic though, if the youngster can scythe his way back through the field.

Antonelli heads to Monza having increased his championship lead with his second-place finish in Zandvoort. He is 59 points ahead of both his team mate and Hamilton after 12 rounds.