George Russell already lifts the veil on Mercedes’ qualifying plan at Monza. For the Italian GP, hometown hero Andrea Kimi Antonelli has a grid penalty, meaning he will start the Italian race at the back of the field. This gives the Mercedes driver free hands during qualifying to try to help teammate Russell secure pole position through a slipstream: “This is how we will approach it,” the Brit says.
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Although qualifying for the Italian GP is yet to take place, Andrea Kimi Antonelli already knows he must start his home race from the back of the grid. The Italian is serving grid penalties for new engine components on his W17. This frees Kimi Antonelli to help teammate George Russell secure pole position on Saturday.
Despite the two battling for the title this season, that is indeed Mercedes’ plan. Russell was asked in Monza if he can expect a slipstream from his young teammate during qualifying. “I hope so,” the Brit replies with a smile. “A slipstream may not be as powerful as it used to be when the wings were open all the time, but we will work together as a team. This is how we will approach it.”
Russell currently stands second in the drivers’ championship alongside Lewis Hamilton, 59 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli. Does his teammate’s grid penalty change the Brit’s approach for the Italian GP? “Nothing changes for me, because I always want to focus on myself, on my limitations, and on the points I want to improve,” Russell says. “I have always said it doesn’t matter if I have a seven-time world champion as a teammate or a rookie. The task remains the same, so my approach will be exactly the same.”
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McLaren and Ferrari
Furthermore, Kimi Antonelli is not the only contender, Russell expects. “Of course, we know that right now we are facing fierce competition, with McLaren and Ferrari introducing new upgrades this weekend. We are still behind in implementing upgrades to the car. We know it won’t be as easy in the meantime as it once was, but we hope to be able to fight again for pole and victory.”
If it’s up to Kimi Antonelli himself, his teammate will also get the chance. In the press conference, the young Italian also confirmed he is open to helping Russell to pole. “We have already discussed it within the team,” he said. “If Mercedes asks me to help, then I will do that. I am clearly not fighting for the win with my starting position at the back of the field. So if I can help the team like this, I will.”
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