F1 leader Antonelli can thrill his home fans from the back of the grid

MONZA, Italy, Sept 2 : Kimi Antonelli is set for a momentous Monza weekend even if he will be starting his home Italian Grand Prix at the back of the grid and chasing Ferrari.

The Mercedes driver, who turned 20 only last week, arrives as the first Italian in 73 years to lead the Formula One championship to the 'Temple of Speed'.

On course to become his country's first champion since Alberto Ascari secured his second title in 1953, Antonelli leads teammate George Russell and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton by 59 points after 12 rounds.

McLaren's reigning champion Lando Norris is a further 24 points adrift after winning the last two races in Hungary and the Netherlands.

Russell, Hamilton and Norris will all be sensing an opportunity, as will Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, with Antonelli taking a new engine and with it enough penalties to send him to the back of the field and ensure he will be the chaser and not the chased.

"It's disappointing for him and for the fans who want to see him fighting from the front in his home race, but our sport doesn't reward sentiment," said team boss Toto Wolff.

"When you make decisions that benefit the championship campaign, sometimes you pay a short-term price. The objective now is straightforward: recover as many places as possible and maximise the points."

SPECIAL LIVERY FOR FERRARI 

Overtaking is always possible at the superfast low-drag circuit with its long straights and slow chicanes, but drivers will have a new challenge with the new power units in managing power deployment given the relative lack of braking zones to recover energy.

That could also mean the use of tactical aerodynamic tows between drivers.

The race, with the fans creating a sea of red beneath the podium, is always special for Ferrari,