World championship leader Kimi Antonelli will take a grid penalty at the upcoming Italian Grand Prix, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has confirmed.
Each driver is permitted a capped amount of various power unit parts for the season, and two separate technical issues for Antonelli have left Mercedes resigned to the fact the Italian will need to exceed the limit before the end of the campaign.
If possible, teams will generally choose to incur grid penalties at tracks where overtaking is easier, which is why Mercedes are set to install a new power unit for Antonelli at his home race in Monza from September 4-6.
Antonelli, who turns 20 on Tuesday, holds a 53-point lead over Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton at the top of the drivers’ standings after extending his advantage over the Brit by finishing fourth in the Dutch Grand Prix Sprint on Saturday.
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Antonelli gained a place at the start of the Dutch GP Sprint
Looking ahead to the rest of Antonelli’s weekend as he spoke to Sky Sports F1 after the Sprint in Zandvoort, Wolff said: “We need big points.
“Kimi is going to probably lose some in Monza starting in the back, so hopefully we can pocket some here.”
George Russell, who reduced his championship deficit to his team-mate Antonelli to 56 points by winning Saturday’s Sprint, is in a similar position in terms of power unit parts used and is expected to need to incur a penalty before the end of the season.
Neither Mercedes nor Russell have yet to offer any indication as to where the Brit will take his penalty.
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Antonelli suffered a nervy moment as he went off into the gravel during SQ1 at the Dutch Grand Prix
The severity of Antonelli’s punishment in Monza will depend on how many different parts Mercedes install, given he is one away from breaching the limit for several elements.
The penalty will be a minimum of 10 places, but if multiple parts are installed Antonelli could be consigned to starting at the back of the grid regardless of where he qualifies.
Before the start of the Sprint, Antonelli’s father Marco had hinted to Sky Sports F1 that his son would be taking a penalty in Monza.
Antonelli snr said: “Monza we will see. It will be difficult, for sure – for a lot of reasons.”
Sky Sports F1’s live Dutch GP schedule
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With the last Formula 1 race coming up at Zandvoort, look back at some of the most dramatic moments throughout the years at the Dutch Grand Prix
Sunday August 23
9.35am: F1 Academy Race 2
10.50am: Porsche Supercup Race 2
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Dutch GP build-up
2pm: THE DUTCH GRAND PRIX
4pm: Chequered Flag: Dutch GP reaction
Formula 1 is at Zandvoort for the Dutch Grand Prix with Sunday’s race at 2pm and build-up from 12.30pm, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime