MONZA, Italy \u2013 Kimi Antonelli is set for a momentous Monza weekend even if he will be starting his home Italian Grand Prix at the back of the grid and chasing Ferrari.<\/p>\n
The Mercedes driver, who turned 20 only last week, arrives as the first Italian in 73 years to lead the Formula One championship to the \u201cTemple of Speed\u201d.<\/p>\n
On course to become his country\u2019s first champion since Alberto Ascari secured his second title in 1953, Antonelli leads teammate George Russell and Ferrari\u2019s Lewis Hamilton by 59 points after 12 rounds.<\/p>\n
McLaren\u2019s reigning champion Lando Norris is a further 24 points adrift after winning the last two races in Hungary and the Netherlands.<\/p>\n
Russell, Hamilton and Norris will all be sensing an opportunity, as will Ferrari\u2019s Charles Leclerc, with Antonelli taking a new engine and with it enough penalties to send him to the back of the field and ensure he will be the chaser and not the chased.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s disappointing for him and for the fans who want to see him fighting from the front in his home race, but our sport doesn\u2019t reward sentiment,\u201d said team boss Toto Wolff.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you make decisions that benefit the championship campaign, sometimes you pay a short-term price. The objective now is straightforward: recover as many places as possible and maximise the points.\u201d<\/p>\n
Special livery for Ferrari<\/p>\n
Overtaking is always possible at the superfast low-drag circuit with its long straights and slow chicanes, but drivers will have a new challenge with the new power units in managing power deployment given the relative lack of braking zones to recover energy.<\/p>\n
That could also mean the use of tactical aerodynamic tows between drivers.<\/p>\n
The race, with the fans creating a sea of red beneath the podium, is always special for Ferrari, who also have an updated power unit to boost their hopes of a home win.<\/p>\n