News Summary

Lewis Hamilton apologised to Ferrari fans after a disappointing Italian Grand Prix at Monza, expressing his frustration over the team’s performance in a radio message that was not shown during the official race broadcast.

Hamilton finished sixth at Ferrari’s home race on Sunday (6), scoring eight points but crossing the finish line 24.6 seconds behind winner Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The Mercedes driver recovered from 19th on the grid to take victory, while George Russell finished second and Max Verstappen completed the podium.

For Ferrari, the result was particularly painful. Charles Leclerc retired on the second lap after an incident involving Hamilton at the start, leaving the team with only one car in the points.

Hamilton had already criticised Ferrari’s driver management after his clash with Leclerc at Monza, while Ferrari subsequently defended the freedom given to its two drivers.

Hamilton made his feelings clear immediately after taking the chequered flag. His race engineer, Carlo Santi, first informed him of the result and acknowledged that Ferrari had failed to deliver the performance it wanted at its most important home event.

“Chequered flag, recharge mode. We finished sixth. Antonelli won the race, with Russell second, Verstappen third, Norris fourth and Piastri fifth. And thank you, Lewis. It wasn’t the race we wanted, it was tough,” Santi told Hamilton over the radio.

Hamilton responded by thanking the Ferrari mechanics for their work throughout the weekend before turning his attention to the tifosi in the grandstands.

“Yeah, this one hurts… it definitely hurts. But thank you for continuing to work and for the great job in the garage this weekend, everyone, always delivering,” Hamilton said. “Thank you all. To the tifosi, thank you for coming again and showing your passion. Sorry we didn’t give you what you wanted.”

The message underlined Hamilton’s disappointment with Ferrari’s lack of competitiveness at Monza, where the pressure on the Italian team is traditionally at its highest.

Ferrari leaves Monza empty-handed in the fight at the front

Hamilton’s sixth place came after a difficult weekend for Ferrari, which struggled to match Mercedes, Red Bull and McLaren on pure performance.

Ferrari had already raised concerns after what it described as a disastrous Italian GP weekend, while Hamilton subsequently demanded changes after another difficult result for the team.

The Briton’s result also contrasted sharply with Antonelli’s remarkable recovery. The Mercedes driver started 19th because of a grid penalty but overtook his way through the field to win his home race and extend his championship lead.

Antonelli now leads Russell by 66 points in the Drivers’ Championship, with Hamilton third on 191 points. Russell has 201, while Antonelli has 267.

For Ferrari, the focus now shifts away from Monza and toward the Spanish Grand Prix. Formula 1 will visit Madrid’s new Madring circuit from September 11-13 for the 14th round of the 2026 season.

Hamilton will therefore arrive in Spain looking for a response after one of Ferrari’s most disappointing home weekends of the year. The Briton has already made clear that the team cannot simply accept another result like Monza.

Ferrari’s weekend at Monza was disappointing for the home fans (Photo: AFP)

FAQ

What happened to Lewis Hamilton at the Italian GP?

Hamilton finished sixth at Monza after Ferrari struggled for pace throughout the race. He scored eight points and finished 24.6 seconds behind winner Kimi Antonelli.

What did Lewis Hamilton say to Ferrari fans after the Monza race?

Hamilton thanked the Ferrari mechanics for their work and apologised to the tifosi, saying: “Sorry we didn’t give you what you wanted.”

When is Ferrari’s next F1 race?

Ferrari’s next race is the Spanish Grand Prix at Madrid’s new Madring circuit from September 11-13, 2026. The event will be the 14th round of the F1 season.