Antonelli not troubled by Monza penalty.

      "The atmosphere will be just as wild as if Ferrari clinches a victory."

      Kimi Antonelli mentioned he's not concerned about beginning at the back of the grid for his home race at Monza, stating that overtaking should be relatively easy. As the championship leader, he will utilize a new Mercedes power unit this weekend after using up his allowed allocation, but this engine will not feature Mercedes' ADUO development upgrade just yet. That upgrade is now anticipated to be available only in October, likely in Austin or Mexico, which means Antonelli might face another power unit penalty later in the season. When asked about starting from the back at Monza, the 20-year-old simply said, "That's fine at Monza - overtaking is simple." Ralf Schumacher believes the Italian's popularity is already becoming a significant factor during the Monza weekend. "If Kimi wins in Monza, the atmosphere will be just as electric as if Ferrari wins," he told Sky Deutschland. Schumacher is convinced that Antonelli will eventually join Maranello. "If Kimi were to race in red and secure victories, Monza might need a complete makeover," he chuckled. "He’s adored by everyone. Him driving for Ferrari would be the ultimate dream for the Italians." "Kimi will certainly drive a Ferrari at some point in his career if he keeps performing like this; I’m certain of it." F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali also shared with Corriere della Sera that Antonelli's emergence is positively impacting the sport beyond the racetrack. "It’s a wonderful story that’s providing a significant boost to our country, including economically." "Kimi, being so young and vibrant, exudes an authentic sense of romance."