Mercedes Method 1 driver Kimi Antonelli says he has “nothing to lose” on the Italian Grand Prix as he goals to get better from a giant penalty for taking new energy unit elements.
Following a string of reliability points earlier within the yr, Antonelli is switching to his fifth Mercedes energy unit of the yr, which can land him a back-of-the grid begin.
Antonelli hasn’t had the most effective Monza recollections as an F1 driver, crashing on his observe debut in 2024 earlier than struggling a subpar weekend final yr throughout his up-and-down rookie marketing campaign. However coming into his second Italian Grand Prix because the sovereign championship chief, the 19-year-old’s grid penalty has taken off a few of the stress as he targets a robust restoration via the sphere.
“On condition that I am beginning final, it will be full assault,” Antonelli stated. “Clearly, I will nonetheless use my head. It isn’t like I will arrive on the first braking zone on Sunday and brake as if it have been qualifying, in any other case I would trigger a crash!
“I do not wish to jinx myself, however I’ve acquired nothing to lose. The aim is to get better as many factors as potential whereas utilizing my head, however the mindset might be to assault as a lot as potential and attempt to acquire as many positions as I can.
He added: “It isn’t splendid to take a penalty at your house grand prix, particularly one this huge. However in the end, as a staff, we’re wanting on the championship, and that is positively top-of-the-line tracks to do it. So it is higher to vary every little thing now and hopefully keep away from any issues sooner or later. I believe that can enable me to get pleasure from it much more, to drive with much less stress, and I believe that is a constructive factor.”
Antonelli will take his fifth Mercedes energy unit of the 2026 marketing campaign, which results in an computerized back-of-the-grid penalty
Photograph by: Alastair Staley / LAT Photographs through Getty Photographs
Antonelli does have the mitigating good thing about with the ability to solely deal with his race set-up, which he thinks may assist him goal an bold top-five berth on Sunday. “We’ll work somewhat in another way than ordinary this weekend, focusing solely on the race set-up, after which we’ll see. I believe the highest 5 might be inside attain, however clearly we’ll should see how the race unfolds.”
With nothing on the road for Antonelli on Saturday, he’ll doubtless be anticipated to assist out team-mate George Russell due to the massive significance of catching a slipstream in qualifying, which seems to be set to be much more essential with this yr’s automobiles.
“It may occur,” Antonelli acknowledged. “It is a dialog we’ll even have internally in order that we’re prepared in case that scenario arises. However it’s not a given. Clearly, I will discuss it with the staff after which we’ll see how issues go. However I do suppose it may occur.”
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