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Italian Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli has confirmed he will incur a grid penalty at the Italian Grand Prix, despite it being his home race.
Each Formula 1 driver is allocated a specific number of power unit components for the season before penalties are applied. While some competitors have already faced sanctions this year for exceeding their quota, Mercedes drivers, who have enjoyed a strong start to the season, had avoided such penalties until now.
However, Antonelli and teammate George Russell are on the verge of penalties, with the Italian confirming he will take his sanction at Monza next month.
"We'll do it at Monza," Antonelli stated, as quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport. "It's one of the easiest tracks for overtaking."
The Italian Grand Prix will take place after this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix, marking the sport's return from its summer break.
Despite the penalty significantly reducing his chances of triumph on home soil, Antonelli insisted the decision was made in the interest of his championship battle, where he holds a 50-point lead.
"It's true that it's my home race, but right now I'm thinking more about the championship," he said. "Since we inevitably have to take a penalty at some point in the season, I need to assess where I can give myself the best chance to recover positions and achieve a good result."
"That's why Monza is definitely at the top of the list for the penalty, and we will try to recover to have a good race in front of the fans."
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