Mercedes has confirmed championship leader Kimi Antonelli will be hit with a grid penalty for taking an all-new power unit at his home grand prix at Monza.
For cost saving reasons, each driver is limited to a set number of power unit components per season, with any usage above the quota incurring penalties.
Reliability issues earlier this season, including a race-ending stoppage at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, meant Mercedes knew it would have to exceed its quota before the end of the season.
It has chosen the Italian Grand Prix as the optimum time and location to incur the associated penalty based on the circuit characteristics and the lifting of parts for the rest of the season.
"So with Kimi we are taking the full thing [all major components of the power unit]," team principal Toto Wolff said. "In theory, our calculations say that is the best track to take it.
"Obviously, algorithms don't take the nationality into consideration. But we are here to fight for a championship and not get the most PR. So, yeah, that's what we are going to do."
Antonelli currently has a 59-point lead in the title race over teammate George Russell and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, who are tied on points in second place.
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The Monza penalty is expected to leave Antonelli at the back of the grid for his home race, but he still thinks a good result is possible.
"Obviously going into Monza we have an engine penalty, but I still think it's the best track to take it," he said. "Of course, it's my home race and all that kind of stuff, but, you know, I think it's the best race to do so.
"So, I think it still will give me a chance to do a great result and bring home good points."
Although Russell has also experienced reliability issues earlier this year and will likely have to incur a similar penalty before the end of the season, Wolff said Mercedes is still weighing up when and where to introduce his new power unit.
Taking new power units for both cars at the same race would significantly reduce the team's chances of winning, and if Antonelli enters qualifying at Monza knowing he has a back-of-the-grid penalty he can assist Russell with a slipstream to help his teammate's chances of securing pole position.
The Italian Grand Prix will take place on Sept. 6.