The Mercedes boss explained the decision to take the penalty at the Italian's home race. Antonelli will start from the back at Monza, but trusts he can fight back.
Toto Wolff, Mercedes team principal, has explained the team's decision to take a grid penalty for Kimi Antonelli at the Italian Grand Prix, his home race. "With Kimi, we are doing the full change. Our calculations say it's the best circuit to do it, obviously, the algorithms don't take his nationality into account. We are here to fight for a championship and not to get the most PR" added Wolff, making it clear that the decision is purely strategic.
Mercedes' decision to change Antonelli's power unit at Monza responds to the need to avoid technical problems like the one that forced him to retire in Barcelona. The Italian, who leads the drivers' championship with a 59 point advantage over his pursuers, will have to fight from the back of the grid on a circuit that, paradoxically, suits the Mercedes engine's characteristics well: "With George, the discussions are ongoing, if we are going to do it" said Wolff, referring to a possible penalty for his other driver as well.
Monza, known as the "Temple of Speed," has been the scene of historic comebacks. Pierre Gasly won in 2020 from tenth position, and Daniel Ricciardo took victory in 2021 with the fourth fastest car, Isack Hadjar, in 2025, started from the pit lane and finished tenth, Max Verstappen, in 2022, won after a five place penalty, and Lewis Hamilton climbed from the back to fifth place; these precedents explain why Mercedes has chosen Monza to take the penalty, trusting that Antonelli can repeat similar feats.
Antonelli, who arrives in Monza after a second place in Zandvoort that allowed him to increase his championship lead, trusts he can fight back; the Italian is known for his overtaking ability and his aggressiveness behind the wheel. The Italian fans hope to see their local hero shine at home, even if he has to do it from the back. Antonelli's penalty is a calculated risk for Mercedes. The team prefers to take the loss of points in one race rather than have to deal with technical problems in several races.
Reliability is key in the championship fight, and Mercedes trusts that the new power unit will work without problems. Mercedes' decision is a reminder that reliability is as important as speed in Formula 1, Antonelli has proven to be an exceptional driver, but his car must support him. Monza will be a test for the German team and for the Italian, who will have to demonstrate his ability to fight back, the fans expect a show and the young driver does not want to disappoint.
The choice of Monza is no coincidence. The Italian circuit, with its long straights and braking zones, offers multiple overtaking opportunities, which allows drivers to recover positions more easily than on other tracks, Mercedes has analyzed all the data and has come to the conclusion that, despite being Antonelli's home race, it is the scenario where the impact of the penalty will be smaller. The strategy is clear: sacrifice qualifying to have a reliable and competitive car for the decisive races of the championship.
The second half of the season will be crucial for Antonelli and Mercedes. The Italian needs to score points and maintain his championship lead; the penalty at Monza is an obstacle, but not insurmountable. "We are here to fight for a championship" concluded Wolff.
