George Russell has revealed that Mercedes group mate Kimi Antonelli is primed to assist him with a tow throughout Qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix, regardless of their respective quests for the 2026 world title.
Russell arrives on the Autodromo Nazionale Monza 59 factors behind Antonelli in the Drivers’ Championship standings, having claimed two Grand Prix victories to the Italian’s six thus far this season.
Antonelli, nevertheless, will drop to the back of the grid for his home race resulting from a full energy unit change, ruling him out of pole place rivalry earlier than the weekend has even began.
That has raised questions over whether or not Antonelli may be used to assist Russell’s personal bid for pole by offering a slipstream alongside one in every of Monza’s many lengthy straights – in flip giving the Briton a beneficial top-speed increase.
Giving his response throughout Thursday’s media duties, Russell initially smiled, “I hope so”, earlier than explaining that “they provided it” and “we’ll go for it, see if it really works” as Qualifying develops.
He continued: “It’s not perhaps as highly effective because it as soon as was with the wings open in [Straight Mode] the entire time, however we’ll work as a group. That’s how we do issues.”
When it comes to Antonelli’s impending grid drop having some other affect on his preparations and method to the weekend, Russell’s take was clear.
“For me, it doesn’t change something, as a result of I all the time need to concentrate on myself, concentrate on my limitations and the areas I need to enhance,” he stated.
“I all the time stated it doesn’t matter if I’ve a seven-time World Champion as my group mate or a rookie. The job continues to be the identical, so my method will likely be precisely the identical.”
He added: “I believe I’m feeling a lot better for the reason that summer time break, and hoping simply to proceed constructing on that momentum.
“After all, we all know we’ve acquired fierce competitors in the mean time with McLaren and Ferrari bringing upgrades. We’re nonetheless on the again foot by way of bringing these upgrades to the automotive.
“We all know in that interim it’s not going to be as simple because it as soon as was, however hoping to combat for pole and the win once more.”
Nonetheless, Russell urged that “any of the top-four groups” have the potential to succeed this weekend – once more being fast to focus on McLaren after their back-to-back victories in Hungary and the Netherlands.
“We will say all we wish [about the pecking order], however we’ll quickly discover out,” he commented. “I believe there will likely be loads of powerful competitors.
“The momentum is with McLaren proper now. Ferrari has upgrades this weekend. We all know Red Bull has a robust energy unit. So, I actually suppose this weekend it may very well be between any of the top-four groups, however I hope it’s us.”
