Kimi Antonelli to receive a grid penalty of at least 10 places at Monza
Formula 1 championship leader Kimi Antonelli will receive a grid penalty of at least 10 places for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza due to the replacement of power unit components. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said the Italian driver could even start from the back of the grid.
Power unit replacement
The penalty will be applied for exceeding the seasonal limit on power unit components. Its exact size will depend on the number of parts the team replaces. According to Wolff, Mercedes is planning an extensive component replacement for Antonelli.
As Channel NewsAsia reports, the team calculated that Monza is the best track to serve such a penalty. Wolff stressed that the decision was made with the title fight in mind, rather than any possible reaction due to the driver's home race.
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Championship situation
Antonelli is first in the overall standings, leading his Mercedes teammate George Russell and Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton by 59 points. On Sunday, he finished second at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort, losing to reigning champion Lando Norris of McLaren.
Antonelli has claimed six victories this season, including five in a row. The Italian Grand Prix will be his first home race of the season and will take place after the driver's 20th birthday. Wolff also said that Russell will also have to receive a penalty for replacing components during the season, while the team is still discussing exactly when this will happen.
Monza is the fastest track on the Formula 1 calendar, where straight-line speed is highly important. Overtaking there is less difficult than at many other tracks, and a new power unit could give Antonelli extra performance even if he starts from the back of the grid.
