Andrea Kimi Antonelli believes Ferrari's upgraded engine has brought it on par with Mercedes ahead of the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix. The assertion follows Friday practice at Monza, where Mercedes set the pace but Ferrari showed formidable threat on home soil.
George Russell topped FP2, edging out Ferrari's Charles Leclerc by 0.120 seconds, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli slotted into third. Despite the deficit, Antonelli suggested that data points to a significant step from the new power unit introduced by Ferrari for their home race.
Throughout this season, Ferrari has lagged behind Mercedes in top speed and engine performance. However, the new engine appears to shift the balance. "Ferrari have definitely taken a step forward with the new engine," Antonelli said. "Now the speeds are the same. We know how good their car is through the corners, so for sure it's going to be a tight fight for pole tomorrow."
Despite the promising pace, Antonelli faces a harsh reality: he will start his home race from the back of the grid due to an engine component penalty incurred from exceeding the season's allocation. The consequence of early-season reliability issues has forced the 20-year-old to focus more on race simulations rather than pure qualifying runs.
"Today was a bit of a different day compared to usual," Antonelli explained. "A lot more focus on long runs, so it was a bit weird, I'm not going to lie. But overall it was a good day. We got a lot of data and now looking forward to the next two days." He added that following other cars during long runs provided valuable insights into their strategies and energy management.
Antonelli has also confirmed he will assist his team-mate and direct title rival, George Russell, by providing a slipstream in qualifying. This move underscores the team's priority to secure a front-row start and adds a tactical layer to the intense championship battle.
With Ferrari now appearing more competitive, the battle at Monza is set to be intense. The fight for pole and the race win will be the true test for both teams as they vie for supremacy in front of the tifosi.
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