Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli described his first day of practice at the 2026 Italian Grand Prix in Monza as somewhat unusual but productive. With a grid penalty looming due to an engine change, Antonelli focused on long-run pace rather than outright qualifying speed, finishing fifth in the opening session and improving to third in the second practice.
During Friday’s track action, Antonelli concentrated on gathering valuable data by running behind other cars to better understand their strategies. Despite the “weird” feeling of the day, he found the sessions useful for preparing his race approach, especially given that he will start from the back of the grid on Sunday because of the penalty.
The competition for pole position appeared tight, with Antonelli highlighting Ferrari’s progress thanks to their recent power unit upgrade and improved cornering speed. His teammate George Russell topped the second practice session, while Mercedes Deputy Team Principal Bradley Lord described the day as “solid,” noting the team’s good car balance and strong long-run performance.
Antonelli’s focus on long runs was influenced by his grid penalty, which means he will need to recover as many positions as possible during the race. He acknowledged that race incidents such as Virtual Safety Cars or Safety Cars could play a role in his progress through the field. While Russell experienced a vibration issue and Antonelli dealt with some understeer during the second session, no major problems were reported by the Mercedes team.
The practice sessions underlined the close competition expected at Monza, with Ferrari’s upgrades drawing attention but Mercedes maintaining a strong race pace. Antonelli’s reflections suggest a strategic approach to the weekend, balancing the challenges of his penalty with the potential opportunities the race may present.
Overall, the day provided Mercedes with useful insights into car performance and race strategy, setting the stage for what could be a closely contested qualifying and race weekend in Italy.