News summary
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli will receive a completely new Mercedes power unit at Monza and take a grid penalty, forcing him to start from the back.
- Mercedes has opted not to use its available ADUO performance upgrade, focusing instead on reliability and cooling improvements.
- Budget-cap considerations and Monza’s unique demands influenced Mercedes’ decision, while Antonelli will focus on recovering positions during the race.
The news that Andrea Kimi Antonelli will receive an entirely new engine at this weekend’s Italian GP — and will therefore be penalized and start from the back of the grid — is no secret. The driver himself confirmed the decision before the most recent race in the Netherlands. Even with the opportunity to introduce an updated power unit, Mercedes has decided not to deploy its current performance specification.
According to Italian outlet AutoRacer, Mercedes is one of the manufacturers entitled to change the homologation of its internal combustion engine under the ADUO (Additional Development and Update Opportunities) rules. The measurement that allows Mercedes to make this second change under ADUO was completed in Hungary, before the summer break.
Mercedes has instead chosen to use an engine featuring reliability-focused changes, without performance modifications. There are two reasons for the decision. One is the importance of having a well-cooled and efficient power unit at a track such as Monza. The other is the cost cap, as Mercedes has already invested heavily in the original engine development program and in the first ADUO window following the Canadian GP.
For now, then, Mercedes will not have a more powerful engine at Monza. Without directly addressing the ADUO decision, team principal Toto Wolff discussed Antonelli’s situation and the demands of Monza, traditionally one of the fastest circuits on the F1 calendar in terms of average speed.
“Kimi is going to receive a penalty and start from the back of the grid. It’s unfortunate for him and the fans, who want to see him fight for victory at his home race, but our sport doesn’t reward feelings. When you make decisions that benefit your championship campaign, sometimes you have to pay a short-term price. The goal is to recover as many positions as possible and score as many points as we can,” he said.
“It’s a track where it is difficult to generate energy. With the current regulations, that creates problems that need to be addressed carefully. It will be an interesting challenge and should make for an entertaining weekend,” Wolff continued.
“The field is much tighter, to the point that several teams can win races purely on merit. The cost of making a mistake is much higher. We are in a good position in both championships, but nobody within the team is under any illusion about how difficult the races ahead will be,” he concluded.
Mercedes had previously considered the possibility of using the ADUO concession at Monza. Antonelli’s new engine therefore represents a strategic opportunity for the team, but the German manufacturer has chosen reliability and operational efficiency over an immediate increase in power. The decision comes as Ferrari prepares its own second ADUO engine update, reportedly targeting an increase of around 15 hp.
The Italian GP will also put Antonelli’s recovery skills to the test. Monza’s long straights and overtaking opportunities make it one of the more favorable circuits for a driver starting from the back, which was one of the reasons Mercedes selected the venue for his engine change.
For the full weekend timetable, check the Italian GP 2026 schedule and session times for Monza.
The 2026 Formula 1 season returns this weekend, from September 4 to 6, at Monza. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover all the action from the 2026 Italian Grand Prix, the 13th round of the season.
FAQ
1. Why will Andrea Kimi Antonelli start from the back of the grid at the Italian GP?
Antonelli will introduce a new power unit component beyond his permitted allocation, triggering a grid penalty at Monza. He previously confirmed that Mercedes had chosen the Italian GP for the engine change because the circuit offers better overtaking opportunities for a recovery drive.
2. Why isn’t Mercedes using its ADUO performance upgrade at Monza?
Mercedes has opted to prioritize reliability, cooling and efficiency rather than additional engine performance, while also considering the team’s available budget under the cost cap.
3. What is ADUO in F1’s 2026 regulations?
ADUO stands for Additional Development and Update Opportunities. The system gives manufacturers that fall behind the established performance benchmark additional opportunities to develop and update their power units during the season. Mercedes qualified for such an opportunity after being measured behind Red Bull Ford.
