Mercedes is sacrificing the championship leader’s starting position at Monza, arguing that title strategy has to take precedence over sentiment.
Mercedes has deployed reality over sentiment by opting to give Kimi Antonelli a fresh power unit for his upcoming home race at Monza—thus incurring a grid penalty. Reliability issues earlier in the season have left both Mercedes drivers on the back foot in terms of component usage, but the timing of the failures—and the prior installation of updated specifications to amend the flaws—has left Antonelli’s situation slightly more precarious.
Antonelli leads the world championship by 59 points, and Italy is expectant, as it awaits a first World Champion since Alberto Ascari in 1953, and a first home winner since Riccardo Patrese triumphed at Imola in 1990. It means Antonelli will drop at least 10 places on the grid from wherever he qualifies, depending on the exact components installed, but most likely a back-of-the-pack slot.
“With Kimi, we are taking the full thing,” Wolff said on Antonelli’s power unit. “Our theory and calculations say that’s the best track to say it. Obviously algorithms don’t take nationality into consideration, but we need to fight for the championship and not get the most PR, so that’s what we’re going to do. With George the discussions are ongoing if and where we are going to take it.”
Italian spectators have traditionally supported Ferrari over an individual, but while there will still be widespread support for the Scuderia, the country is expectant of Antonelli’s prospects. The decision to weaken his victory prospects will undoubtedly reduce some of the pressure from the shoulders of the Bologna-born racer, who turns 20 on Tuesday.
Antonelli conceded after last year’s round at Imola that he had underestimated the energy required for off-track activities, while he endured one of his worst displays of his rookie campaign at Monza, which earned a rare public rebuke afterwards from Wolff. Antonelli backed Mercedes’ call to take the grid drop.
“I still think it’s the best track where to take it,” Antonelli said. “Of course, it’s my home race and all that kind of stuff, but, you know, I think it’s the best race to do so. So, I think it still will give me a chance to do a great result and bring home good points.”
