George Russell makes Mercedes grid penalty claim after Kimi Antonelli decision

George Russell expressed regret for not taking his engine grid penalty at the Italian Grand Prix, suggesting that he should have followed teammate Kimi Antonelli's example. Antonelli, who started from the back of the grid due to a penalty, managed to win the race, extending his championship lead over Russell to 66 points. Russell acknowledged that Monza is typically a favorable circuit for such penalties due to its overtaking opportunities.

Russell is currently awaiting a new engine upgrade from Mercedes and believes that Monza would have been the perfect opportunity for him to take the penalty. Despite his performance, he recognizes that Antonelli is currently outperforming him and feels that he needs to improve to compete for the championship.