Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli is aiming to solidify his lead in the drivers' championship during the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The race, held at Ferrari’s home track, is known for its long straights, which may not favor Ferrari's car, despite the team’s home advantage. Antonelli will face competition from a resurgent McLaren, particularly from Lando Norris, who has won the last two races and is in strong form. Norris has recently extended his contract with McLaren, raising questions about the dynamics between him and his teammate, Oscar Piastri. Piastri started the season with high expectations, having been a title contender in 2025 before his campaign faltered. This year, he has struggled to match Norris’s performance, with only two race victories in contention—both lost to Norris due to delays involving other drivers. Although Piastri is slightly slower on average, the gap between him and Norris is small, with Norris only faster by about 0.08 seconds. Norris’s consistency has given him a 55-point and three-position lead in the championship. Piastri, however, has shown strength in high-speed corners, which has been limited due to the need for engine power to charge batteries. He also struggles more in low-grip conditions compared to Norris. Team principal Andrea Stella has acknowledged that Piastri needs to adjust his driving style to better suit the car, which can be mentally taxing and result in a loss of speed. Both McLaren and Piastri deny any internal tension, but the possibility of Max Verstappen joining the team this summer had previously raised concerns about Piastri’s future. However, with Verstappen now signed to Red Bull, that scenario has faded, though the possibility of future interest from McLaren remains. Piastri, under contract until 2027, is focused on regaining his form and closing the gap in the championship. Mercedes has opted to penalize Kimi Antonelli with a grid drop at Monza for exceeding the allowed number of engine parts. The team calculated that Monza’s long straights would allow Antonelli to gain more performance from a new engine, despite the penalty. Antonelli still holds a comfortable 59-point lead in the championship and is willing to accept the drop to secure valuable points. George Russell is also expected to take a similar penalty, likely at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Ferrari has faced questions about whether emotional ties to Charles Leclerc might influence their decisions, but the team maintains a policy of equality between its drivers. They will favor one driver only if it clearly benefits the team. For example, Ferrari asked Leclerc to move to help optimize Lewis Hamilton’s race at the Dutch Grand Prix. Team principal Frederic Vasseur, who has a long history with both drivers, is not seen as favoring one over the other. The Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort is unlikely to return to the Formula 1 calendar soon due to financial and logistical challenges. The race was privately run without government support, and organizers decided to end it to avoid potential losses. F1 has other events in the pipeline, such as the return of races in Portugal and Turkey, to replace Zandvoort.