Kimi Antonelli believes a top-five finish is within reach at the 2026 Italian Grand Prix despite being forced to start from the back of the grid after taking a new Mercedes power unit. The Formula 1 championship leader says his Monza weekend will be built entirely around race preparation and promises a “full attack” approach as he attempts a major recovery in front of his home crowd.
The Mercedes driver also confirmed that the team is preparing an updated car package for Malaysia, with engineers said to be highly confident in its potential. Until Sepang, Antonelli knows Mercedes must optimise everything it already has, particularly as McLaren has made a major performance step and Ferrari is expected to be strong at Monza with its ADUO power unit development.
Kimi Antonelli targets top five from the back at Monza
The prospect of a recovery drive has become one of the main talking points ahead of the Italian Grand Prix. Antonelli will serve a penalty for using a new power unit, but the championship leader is not lowering his expectations. All three practice sessions will be used primarily to develop the race set-up rather than chase outright qualifying performance.
Asked what he believes is possible from the back of the grid, Kimi Antonelli said: “I think we’ll understand that from the pace we find session after session. This weekend we’ll work a little differently than usual; we’ll focus only on the race set-up and then we’ll see. I think the top five could be within reach, but obviously we’ll have to see how the race unfolds.”
Antonelli could help George Russell with a Monza tow
With Antonelli destined to start at the back regardless of his qualifying position, Mercedes could potentially use him to help George Russell by providing a slipstream around Monza, where towing can make a significant difference on the long straights.
Asked whether that possibility had been discussed, Antonelli replied: “It could happen. It’s a conversation we’ll also have internally so that we’re ready if the need arises. But it’s not a given; obviously I’ll talk to the team and then we’ll see how things develop. I do think it could happen, though.”
Why Mercedes chose Monza for Antonelli’s power unit penalty
Toto Wolff has openly explained that Mercedes’ decision to take the penalty at Monza was made with the championship in mind. Antonelli accepts that logic despite the disappointment of sacrificing his starting position at his home Grand Prix.
“It’s not ideal to take a penalty at your home Grand Prix, especially one this big. But ultimately, as a team, we’re looking at the championship and this is definitely one of the best tracks to do it. So it’s better to change everything now and then hopefully not have problems in the future.”
Antonelli also expects another penalty when Mercedes eventually introduces its ADUO power unit specification, although he believes that sanction should be considerably smaller.
“I also think we’ll take another penalty when we fit the engine with ADUO, but when that happens we’ll only serve a five-place penalty. So we’re changing everything now to avoid problems in the future. And as I said before, this is the best track to do it.”
Starting last reduces the pressure of Antonelli’s home race
Paradoxically, knowing in advance that he will start last has also removed some of the pressure surrounding Antonelli’s home Grand Prix.
“Definitely. It will be a slightly strange weekend because it’s your home Grand Prix, but you already know you’re going to start last. I think that will allow me to enjoy it even more, to drive with a little less worry, and I think that’s positive. It definitely takes away some of the pressure connected with the home Grand Prix.”
“Obviously, it’s not that I wanted to start last. I’d much rather start from pole, but it will definitely help me approach the weekend in a more relaxed way.”
Mercedes simulations show why Monza was chosen
The decision was not based simply on accepting a penalty at a convenient moment. Mercedes studied how heavily qualifying position and race pace influence the final result at different circuits, with Monza emerging as one of the strongest opportunities for a recovery drive.
“The ease of overtaking was definitely considered. The engineers analyse the Grands Prix and run simulations with a system that shows how important race pace is compared with qualifying.”
“For example, Monaco is all about qualifying, and qualifying also counts for a lot at Zandvoort. Here at Monza, though, if you have race pace you can come through much more easily. Even if you start fifth, if you’re quick you can still win the race. That’s one of the things that pushed them towards having me take the penalty at this track.”
Antonelli added that Mercedes’ development schedule was another important factor in the decision.
“I’d also add that we’ll be bringing updates soon and the engineers are confident that, with the new package, the car will gain quite a lot. Let’s say it was the combination of all these things that pushed them towards having me take the penalty this weekend.”
Mercedes Malaysia upgrade gives Antonelli confidence
Mercedes has not introduced significant upgrades since Canada, while its rivals have continued to develop. Antonelli confirmed that the next important step for the W17 is scheduled for Malaysia, where the team expects to introduce an updated package.
Until then, maximising the current car will be essential. Mercedes knows its rivals have closed the gap, particularly McLaren, which Antonelli believes has made a major leap since Hungary.
Antonelli surprised by Monza energy management in simulator
One of the biggest technical questions surrounding the 2026 cars at Monza concerns power unit energy management. The circuit’s long full-throttle sections and limited opportunities for energy recovery had raised concerns that drivers could experience significant superclipping — the sudden reduction in electrical deployment once available battery energy has been exhausted.
After driving Monza in the Mercedes simulator, however, Antonelli found the situation less severe than he had expected.
“I’ve driven it in the simulator and I can say it’s not great, but it’s not that terrible either. In terms of superclipping, I think Australia was the worst situation and will remain the worst for the rest of the year.”
“With the reduction in the number of megajoules you can recharge, and therefore the amount of harvesting you can do during the lap, there will be much less superclipping. There will be more time when we use only the combustion engine instead of the battery, but we won’t see that sudden loss of speed caused by superclipping.”
“In many places the speed will remain the same and we won’t see major drops like we perhaps did in Australia or, in some places, at Silverstone. At least from that point of view it’s better, because otherwise it would have been a bit of a disaster. I have to say it feels better to drive than I expected, to be honest — much better.”
Why Monza already means so much to Kimi Antonelli
Antonelli already has a deep personal connection with the Italian circuit, stretching back well before his arrival in Formula 1.
“I have a lot of memories here at Monza, good and bad. The best is definitely when Mercedes announced right here in this paddock that I would be joining Formula 1 in 2024.”
“I also took my first Formula 4 podium at this track at the end of 2021. It’s a beautiful memory: I scored my first three single-seater podiums right here, so it was a weekend I’ll remember forever. I also won both races I contested at Monza in FRECA. I’d say I have a lot of great memories and it’s a circuit that means a lot to me.”
Asked about his favourite section of the circuit, Antonelli singled out the Ascari chicane.
“As for the part of the track I like most, I’d say Ascari, followed immediately by Lesmo 1 and Lesmo 2, but for me the most beautiful corner of all is Ascari. It’s very fast and it’s not easy because you have to position the car well.”
“Especially after the changes they made in 2024, the kerb on the right is quite slippery, so the car is always moving around a little. This year, with all the power we have under acceleration, it will be a difficult corner, especially on the exit. It’s very challenging, and that’s why it’s so beautiful.”
Antonelli on the unusual Ferrari-Mercedes battle at Monza
Antonelli was also asked whether the Italian Grand Prix could feel like a direct contest between himself and Ferrari in front of the home fans.
“If I were starting at the front, probably yes, but given the situation it’s difficult to say. I think the support will be enormous and obviously I think there will be even more for Ferrari. But it feels a little strange: there’s Ferrari up there and then there’s me, but I’m in a Mercedes. It definitely isn’t easy for the fans.”
Ferrari is expected to make Monza a major technical target, with the team preparing an ADUO power unit step for its home Grand Prix.
Antonelli promises “full attack” in Italian Grand Prix
Despite leading the championship, Antonelli says his driving mentality has not fundamentally changed compared with the beginning of the season. Starting last means there is even less reason to adopt a conservative approach at Monza.
“No. Especially this weekend, given that I’m starting last, it will be… full attack! Obviously while using my head. It’s not as if I’m going to arrive at the first braking zone on Sunday and brake like I would in qualifying, otherwise I’d cause a strike! And I don’t want to jinx myself…”
“But I have nothing to lose. The objective is to recover as many points as possible while using my head, but the mindset will be to attack as much as possible and try to gain as many positions as I can.”
Antonelli wants Monza’s unusual Pirelli trophy
Antonelli also reacted to the distinctive Pirelli trophy created for this year’s Italian Grand Prix, admitting that he initially thought images of the design were not genuine.
“The one with the bowls? Initially I thought it was fake, then I realised it was real! And afterwards I understood its meaning: it represents the fragility of victory and the fact that it’s always something you have to build.”
“The idea is nice and, even though the shape is unusual, I hope I can collect the trophy on Sunday and take it home. It won’t be easy at all, but I’ll try.”
Antonelli identifies McLaren as recent F1 benchmark
For all the attention surrounding Antonelli and Ferrari at Monza, the championship leader knows they will not be the only major contenders. McLaren has emerged as a particularly serious threat after making substantial progress during the second half of the season.
“McLaren made a huge step starting from Hungary, where they brought a great package. At Zandvoort they brought another upgrade and I think that could be their final major update of the year.”
“It’s obvious that they’ve made a huge step forward, but we’ve been standing still for quite a while. We haven’t brought updates since Canada, so we expected that sooner or later our rivals would improve.”
Antonelli believes Mercedes’ opportunity to respond will arrive at Sepang.
“In Malaysia, though, it will be our turn. We’ll bring our updates to the track and the team seems very confident about the potential of the package.”
“Certainly, in the last two races McLaren has been the car and the team to beat, with Lando also doing a great job. I also think Ferrari will be very strong this weekend with the ADUO engine, so it’s going to be close.”
“That’s why our objective, especially in these races where we aren’t bringing updates, is to maximise the result and do the best job possible. Then, when it’s our turn to bring the updates, hopefully they’ll allow us to gain some performance.”
