– Mathematically, Kimi Antonelli cannot become world champion in Monza yet. The Italian is “only” 59 points ahead of his teammate George Russell and Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton before the 13th race of the season in the World Championship. According to Jolyon Palmer, however, the race in Italy could bring a preliminary decision in the championship battle.
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“If Kimi wins in Monza despite a grid penalty, he is world champion,” the former Formula 1 driver states firmly in the podcast F1 Nation. Such a result would be “a devastating blow” especially for Russell in the World Championship, Palmer believes.
The background is that Antonelli will get a new engine at his home race and therefore has to move back in the starting grid. Russell, on the other hand, will start the race without penalty, which is why Monza is a great opportunity for him to catch up points in the championship.
A comeback crowned with a win by Antonelli “would completely take the wind out of George’s sails,” Palmer suspects, who therefore clarifies: “George has to win this race.” Otherwise, he sees no great chance for his compatriot in the championship fight anymore.
Toto Wolff explains: “Kimi receives a penalty for using a new power unit and therefore has to start from the back of the field. That is disappointing for him and the fans who want to see him fight at the front at his home race. But in our sport, no sentimentality is rewarded.”
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“When you make decisions in the interest of the championship fight, sometimes you have to pay a short-term price. Our goal is now clear: We want to make up as many places as possible and maximize the points haul,” says the Mercedes team boss.
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Basically, Palmer does not rule out an Antonelli win. “He could win, because the way he has driven so far, I still consider Mercedes the clear favorite in Monza,” says the former Renault driver.
However, he sees a greater likelihood of a Mercedes success with Russell. “George was better in Zandvoort,” he says and explains: “I know he didn’t quite get the race together. He had two bad first laps that set him back.”
“His race pace was also not quite as good as Kimi’s,” Palmer admits. But under normal circumstances, Antonelli should have no chance in Monza, in his opinion, to finish ahead of his teammate under the given conditions.
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If the Italian manages it after all, it would, in his opinion, be equivalent to a preliminary decision in the World Championship.
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