How Hamilton feels ahead of Ferrari Monza debut

Lewis Hamilton is about to embark on the biggest weekend of his Ferrari career so far at Monza.

Racing for Ferrari every weekend is special, but flying around the iconic bends at the “Temple of Speed” in front of thousands of screaming “Tifosi” hits different.

Ferrari arrives at its first Italian Grand Prix with Hamilton on the back foot after a wretched double DNF at Zandvoort, where both cars were taken out at the Hugenholtzbocht curve.

To compound matters for Hamilton, he will have to overcome a five-place grid penalty for a yellow flag breach on a reconnaissance lap in the build-up to the Dutch Grand Prix.

The seven-time world champion revealed his “shock” at receiving the penalty and believes he is in for a “challenging” weekend at the biggest race of the year.

“I don’t know how the other drivers felt about the decisions from the last race, but when I landed back home and saw I got this penalty, I was really shocked, but it is what it is,” Hamilton said. 

“It’s obviously not black and white. If you look at the report, I did lift, but to their liking, not enough. 

“To get the penalty and penalty points is pretty hardcore, but I will learn from it. There’s no point whinging about it. 

“It’s going to be challenging this weekend. 

“Qualifying is already so close between us all and just getting into Q3 is tough, so getting into the top five is very tough. 

“Then on top of that, to be set back five places is not great when you’re going into your first Monza GP with Ferrari. 

The Italian Grand Prix Ferrari liveries are special, honouring Niki Lauda’s 1975 title. Image: Ferrari

“But it gives me more to fight for, and I’m very motivated to make up those places regardless.”

Despite the race ending early with a slumped Hamilton picking up the damage, he views the Dutch Grand Prix as a strong step forward.

After qualifying seventh, he was fighting to challenge the top five until disaster struck.

However, Hamilton was in a much more positive frame of mind leaving the summer break than entering it.

“Throughout the weekend, the approach we had was spot on and I felt it was one of our strongest, if not the strongest, and smoothest weekends up until Sunday,” he said. 

“Sunday was disappointing and unfortunate. It’s unusual for me because I don’t really make a lot of mistakes in races like that. 

“The great thing is the team remained really positive, incredibly supportive every weekend. They lift your spirits. 

“Then in the following days, they deep-dived into trying to understand what led to it. It wasn’t a lack of concentration. 

“There were several things that contributed: for example, we had a downgraded upshift, which locked the rear wheels and spat the rear end out. 

“Also, it was spitting and so I was maybe 10 millimetres or 10 centimetres wider than the previous lap. 

“Either way, it’s not great, but I learn from it and move forward. 

“If I apply that same approach this weekend and the following races, I feel positive about the direction we’re going.”

Lewis Hamilton with Niki Lauda’s 1975 Ferrari. Image: Supplied

This weekend, Ferrari is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Niki Lauda’s first championship by applying the colour scheme to the 2025 liveries in stunning fashion.

Lauda has played a big role in Hamilton’s career due to their time at Mercedes, which proved to be the final years of the Austrian’s legendary life.

“It’s amazing this weekend, because I got to celebrate Niki at Mercedes, and now to be able to come to Ferrari and celebrate him here too,” Hamilton said. 

“His legacy continues to live on. I know what he would be saying to me nowadays, and he’s always in the back of my mind that thought. 

“When I didn’t do well, he would do this and he’d tell me to “give them hell” – but he would always say the word ‘arseholes’! 

“I never understood it at first. I’d say “what do you mean? Do you mean give them hell?” and he would say no “give them arseholes!”. But he was just such a fighter.”

Each year, there is always unparalleled attention on Ferrari at Monza and this year will be no different.

After an underwhelming season where the team went from being tipped as a title contender to struggling to get regular podiums, the “Tifosi” are desperate for something memorable to happen at home.

That was certainly the case last year when smart strategy and daring racing saw Charles Leclerc overhaul Oscar Piastri to an exciting win.

Whilst a repeat win is unlikely, there are still significant expectations on the Scuderia this weekend.

2025 Italian Grand Prix

FP1 – Friday 21.30-22.30

FP2 – Saturday 1.00-2.00

FP3 – Saturday 20.30-21.30

Qualifying – Sunday 0.00-1.00

Grand Prix – Sunday 23.00

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