Mercedes admits Monza penalty regret as Kimi Antonelli faces same fate

Kimi Antonelli will start from the back at Monza after Mercedes fits a fresh power unit, a decision the team admits it has regretted at the Italian GP in the past. The championship leader has used up his permitted allocation of several components, forcing a tactical penalty at a circuit where overtaking should be easier.

Why it matters:

Antonelli leads the drivers' championship, and Monza is his home race. Mercedes also leads both championships, so the team is absorbing the penalty now to avoid bigger losses later. Past regrets at Monza show the gamble, but new regulations have changed overtaking dynamics.

The details:

• Antonelli has reached the season limit for ICE, exhaust, energy store, and control electronics, but still has allowances for turbo and MGU-K.
• Mercedes is introducing a full new power unit, meaning a back-of-grid start.
• Reliability issues earlier in the season, including retirements in Spain and Canada, forced the change.
• Andrew Shovlin said Monza is now an "energy-starved circuit with four overtaking zones," making recovery easier than before.
• He added that with Mercedes leading both championships, "there is logic in taking the pain now rather than adding pressure if the margins tighten later."

What's next:

George Russell will also need a grid penalty before season's end, though he has more components in hand. The team hasn't decided where. Plans will be reviewed after every weekend, balancing high-mileage risk against points cost.