Kimi Antonelli admitted the penalties of the network he will serve in Italian Grand Prix It won’t be his last this season. The man from Bologna’s hopes of winning his home race are slim after Mercedes chose the event as the best one for their championship-leading driver to endure engine penalties coming his way.
Mercedes They have had strong power units this year and that is an important part of why they currently lead both championships. However, reliability was not great which led to this situation where new parts were taken Antonelli It cannot be avoided beyond its annual allotment.
Drivers are allowed up to four of each engine component per season, but reliability issues meant some of the ones used by Antonelli earlier this year did not last their full intended lifespan. With 10 rounds remaining, including Monza this weekend, getting to the end of the year in its current form was not a feasible plan.
Toto Wolf It was announced before Mercedes arrived in Italy that this was where Antonelli would carry out his penalties on the grid. Although this is the 20-year-old’s own race, it is one of the most overtaking-friendly circuits remaining, thus giving him the best chance of mitigating the damage by coming back through the pack.
F1 rules state that starting penalties totaling 15 or more positions will result in an automatic start from the rear, and Mercedes will enable this by giving Antonelli new parts across the entire engine and battery pack. However, speaking to reporters in Monza, the championship leader admitted another penalty would have to be taken this year.
“Anyway, I think we will receive another penalty with the engine,” Antonelli said. A second offense exceeding the annual allowance is worth five places instead of 10 for the first, so he is only expected to receive a five-place penalty in total at another race before the end of the year, so he can use Mercedes’ updated ICE when he is ready.
For now, his focus is on limiting the damage this weekend, and at the FIA’s press conference, Antonelli was asked about his plans to do so. He replied: “In some ways it helps me relieve pressure, although I prefer to fight for pole and start from there at the front. But in a way, it makes me more relaxed before the weekend. I also think that’s why I’ll be able to enjoy the drive and the weekend itself more.”
“And of course it’s a different opportunity, it’s a chance to try something different over the weekend, and a different way of working as well in free training in particular, because we have the opportunity to do that. So, yeah, I think it’s going to be a very interesting weekend.”
