THE DEBATE — Is Mercedes right to penalise Antonelli at Monza?

Mercedes’ decision is rational, but not cost-free. Antonelli will exceed the permitted allocation of some power-unit elements at Monza and will therefore take a grid penalty. The team would rather serve it now to strengthen its reliability margin after several technical problems this season than wait for a circuit where recovery is more difficult.

Monza provides the strongest case for that choice: long straights, slipstreaming and overtaking opportunities. History shows that a penalty need not ruin a race there — Max Verstappen won in 2022 despite a five-place drop, while Isack Hadjar recovered from the pit lane to 10th in 2025. Antonelli also holds a 59-point lead over Russell and Hamilton.

Those examples are not guarantees. Starting in traffic raises the risk at the first braking zone, complicates tyre management and can trap a fast car in a DRS train. McLaren’s recent form also reduces the room for error. Mercedes has probably chosen the venue where the sanction should cost the least, but it is still exposing its championship leader to a more unpredictable home race. The decision should ultimately be judged not by his starting position, but by how many points he can rescue on Sunday.