Mercedes has officially decided its championship leader Kimi Antonelli will start from the back of the grid at the upcoming Italian Grand Prix after it decided to give the Italian a new power unit, exceeding his allowance for the year.
Drivers are allowed to use up to four power units for the season, but Mercedes' reliability woes over the first half of the campaign meant it has always been a question of when, not if, its drivers were going to exceed that allowance and take a grid penalty. Antonelli is currently already at the limit with his V6 and exhaust system, while Russell has no more room for either a combustion engine or turbocharger.
Antonelli had been in line for a grid drop at his home race in Monza in two weeks' time, and Mercedes has now officially confirmed it will change the ******* le favourite's engine. The 19-year-old is set for a full power unit switch, which sets him up for a back-of-the-grid start.
"With Kimi we are taking the full thing," Wolff confirmed, dismissing the notion that Mercedes could have been tempted to take into account Monza being Antonelli's home race.
"In theory, our calculations say that that's the best track to take it. Obviously, our algorithms don't take nationality into consideration. But we are here to fight for a championship and not get the most PR. So, that's what we are going to do."
#officially
Drivers are allowed to use up to four power units for the season, but Mercedes' reliability woes over the first half of the campaign meant it has always been a question of when, not if, its drivers were going to exceed that allowance and take a grid penalty. Antonelli is currently already at the limit with his V6 and exhaust system, while Russell has no more room for either a combustion engine or turbocharger.
Antonelli had been in line for a grid drop at his home race in Monza in two weeks' time, and Mercedes has now officially confirmed it will change the ******* le favourite's engine. The 19-year-old is set for a full power unit switch, which sets him up for a back-of-the-grid start.
"With Kimi we are taking the full thing," Wolff confirmed, dismissing the notion that Mercedes could have been tempted to take into account Monza being Antonelli's home race.
"In theory, our calculations say that that's the best track to take it. Obviously, our algorithms don't take nationality into consideration. But we are here to fight for a championship and not get the most PR. So, that's what we are going to do."
#officially
2 months ago
