Why Kimi Antonelli is taking a F1 grid penalty at Italian Grand Prix

F1 championship leader Kimi Antonelli will accept a grid penalty at his home Italian Grand Prix for taking an all-new power unit.

The Mercedes star, who finished second at the Dutch Grand Prix behind Lando Norris, is the favourite to win a maiden title and holds a 59-point lead over teammate George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, who could benefit from a revised Ferrari strategy in the coming weeks.

But with reliability issues, with a race-ending stop at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, Mercedes have taken drastic action to avoid further problems in the title run-in.

But for cost saving reasons, with each driver limited to a set number of power unit components per season, the Silver Arrows must accept a penalty.

There is a theory behind Mercedes’ timing too, which has proven painful for Antonelli, denting his chances of success at a home grand prix on 6 September.

But Toto Wolff has revealed that the team has assessed the circuit characteristics with data informing them that now is the time to hand his rivals an advantage.

"So with Kimi we are taking the full thing [all major components of the power unit]," team principal Toto Wolff said. "In theory, our calculations say that is the best track to take it.

"Obviously, algorithms don't take the nationality into consideration. But we are here to fight for a championship and not get the most PR. So, yeah, that's what we are going to do."

Antonelli will likely start from the back of the grid, but a positive result and limiting the damage to Russell, Hamilton and the resurgent Norris, off the back of two successive wins, will be the priority.

"Obviously going into Monza we have an engine penalty, but I still think it's the best track to take it," he said. "Of course, it's my home race and all that kind of stuff, but, you know, I think it's the best race to do so.

"So, I think it still will give me a chance to do a great result and bring home good points."

Russell could also take on a new power unit, but Wolff may opt for less drastic action to solve the Briton’s own reliability issues.