Mercedes admits Monza grid penalty regret before Kimi Antonelli faces same fate

Kimi Antonelli is set to receive a grid penalty for the upcoming Monza race due to the installation of a new power unit, which exceeds the allowed number of components. Despite this being a challenging situation for the championship leader, Mercedes has acknowledged that they have previously regretted similar decisions at Monza but believe the track's characteristics will allow for easier overtaking, potentially reducing the penalty's impact.

Mercedes has faced reliability issues this season, prompting the need for new components for both Antonelli and George Russell. While Antonelli will start from the back of the grid, Russell is also expected to face a penalty later in the season. The team is managing component usage carefully to ensure both drivers can finish the season with optimal hardware.