Antonelli will start last at Monza, but he remains upbeat: “I’ll be in full-on attack mode.”

He already knows he’ll be starting from the back of the grid on Sunday. Not exactly the best way to begin his home Grand Prix, where he arrives at the top of the World Championship standings. Kimi Antonelli, however, hasn’t lost his smile. He’d known for a month that the team was planning to make him serve the penalty for the Power Unit replacement at Monza. A tough sacrifice, but an inevitable one given the title objective. If there’s one track where such a heavy penalty can turn from a curse into an opportunity, it’s the Temple of Speed. And so Kimi is trying to see the glass as half full: fewer worries about qualifying, more work on the car in preparation for Sunday and, above all, a very simple motto: attack. “This weekend we’ll have the chance to work a bit differently from usual and focus more on the set-up. After all, even if I took pole, I’d still start last. So we can concentrate more on the race. I think a top-five finish is very, very achievable, although obviously we’ll have to see how it all pans out. In any case, I’m setting out to attack. Full attack, hopefully without messing up at the first braking point,” he says, knocking on wood and any other good-luck charms within reach. “Full attack, but using my head,” he adds. “I’m starting last, I’ve got nothing to lose and I want to make up as much ground as possible. The mindset will be to go on the attack and try to gain as many positions as possible.”

“It’s not ideal to pick up a penalty at your home Grand Prix, especially one as significant as this. However, as a team, we’re focused on the championship, and this is certainly one of the best circuits on which to do so. It’s better to change everything now to avoid problems in the future.” He’s already thinking like a wise old hand. After all, this is a circuit where overtaking is possible. We’re not at Monaco, Zandvoort or Singapore. “The team runs simulations to understand how important race pace and qualifying are. In Monaco, it’s all about qualifying, whereas here, if you’ve got the pace, you can make up places much more easily. Even starting fifth, if you’re quick you can still win. That’s what prompted them to have me take the penalty here.” The decision, Kimi reveals, wasn’t an afterthought. “We’ve been talking about it for about a month now. As much as I regret it, I said yes and didn’t complain too much. The best race to do this in is the one where you can make up the most ground. In qualifying I might help George; here, slipstream is absolutely crucial, and if the team asks me to, I’ll give him a hand.” The Constructors’ Championship also counts. Toto Wolff cares deeply about it. Kimi knows this, and he also knows that on some other occasion, he might be the one to receive the favour. “It’ll be a bit of a strange weekend. It’s the home Grand Prix, but I already know I’ll be starting last. I think this will allow me to enjoy myself even more and drive more carefree. Obviously, I’d prefer to start from pole, but it will certainly help me approach the weekend with a lighter heart.”

Two years ago in Monza, he completed his first lap in an F1 car during an official race weekend. He went off the track on the third lap at the Parabolica. “I’ve learnt a great deal from that mistake, both as a man and as a driver.” Last year he let himself be swept along by events; this year he knows what to do: “It will be very different from last year. After last season’s experiences, I’ll know how to manage myself better, including in my daily activities. I’ll be able to take more time for myself, because I didn’t do that enough last year. Above all, I’ll be able to manage my energy levels much better.” The technical work will also change. Qualifying is inevitably taking a back seat, and Mercedes will be able to sacrifice a little on the single-lap pace to build a car that’s more effective over long runs. “We’ll be able to focus more on setup testing even during the sessions. We don’t necessarily have to find a car that’s fast in qualifying either: we can work more on a setup that allows me to be fast in the race.”

In a season that has seen him rise to the top of the world rankings, Antonelli makes no secret of just how important what happens outside the cockpit is too. In particular, the presence of his father, Marco. “Having my father by my side is very important, especially this year, because I’m not used to being in this sort of situation. I need the right support and the right people around me. Above all, my father tries to steer me in the right direction and also helps me deal with criticism.” This balance then translates directly into performance. “When you know you have that sort of support, as well as that of the team, you’re more at ease. And when you get into the car feeling more at ease, you drive better; you have fewer things on your mind and you can focus solely on driving.”

For Kimi, Monza isn’t just the circuit for the Italian Grand Prix, the track where his contract with Mercedes was announced two years ago. It’s a place full of memories. “The best moment was when my signing was announced here. Then there was my first podium in Formula 4, at the end of 2021, and with the Freca I won both races. It’s a circuit that’s very close to my heart.” And if he has to choose a corner, there’s no doubt about it: “The Ascari. It’s very fast; it’s not easy because you have to position the car well and the kerb on the right is quite slippery. This year, with all the power we’ve got under acceleration, it’ll be even trickier. It’s a very challenging corner, but a beautiful one.” On Sunday, he’ll be approaching it from the back of the pack for the first time. But he’s already decided how to tackle it: without overthinking it, keeping his wits about him, but also with his foot firmly on the accelerator. Because, starting last on the grid, as he puts it, “I’ve got nothing to lose”.