News summary
- Lewis Hamilton is chasing his first Italian GP victory as a Ferrari driver at Monza this weekend.
- The seven-time world champion says Ferrari now has a clearer development direction than it did last year and believes the team has what it takes to win.
- Hamilton admits the pressure is high as he bids to win at Monza for a record sixth time and potentially become the first Black driver to win in a Ferrari at the Italian GP.
Lewis Hamilton made no secret of his excitement at the possibility of securing a first Italian GP victory with Ferrari. The Briton acknowledged that the pressure is “huge”, but highlighted the historical significance of the opportunity, as he could become the first Black driver to win in a Ferrari at the team’s home race.
Hamilton’s excitement ahead of the Monza weekend is not only about Formula 1 returning to the iconic Italian circuit. Ferrari was also cleared by the FIA to make two updates to its power unit, taking advantage of the additional development opportunities available under the ADUO system.
Hamilton acknowledged that Ferrari has faced a significant deficit so far in 2026, but stressed that even if this weekend’s updates do not completely close the gap to the front, any improvement is welcome.
“Any help is welcome, and I think so far this year, we’ve been losing — even in the last race, on such a short circuit, we were losing four-tenths per lap throughout the race. It’s a huge deficit, and we’ve carried that throughout the whole season. All I can say is I’m very, very proud of how hard everyone is working,” Hamilton said.
The No. 44 praised the dedication of Ferrari’s workforce and pointed out that, unlike last year, the team now has a clearer direction for development.
“When I go back to the factory, I see the commitment of everyone. They’re really focused, heads down, getting on with the work. Everyone seems really excited. I see a different focus this year compared to last year. Last year, I felt like there wasn’t really a direction to go in,” Hamilton said.
“We were doing the best we could, but we didn’t really know exactly what our goal was. Now we have a direction, we know where we need to work, and I think they’ve done an amazing job to pull everything together and deliver results,” he added.
“This is a step forward. It’s not everything we need to close the gap, but we knew that would be the case. But seeing parts coming every weekend and being put onto the car, it’s exciting to see that we’re fighting. I strongly believe we have what we need to win,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton arrives at Monza this weekend tied with Michael Schumacher for the record of most Italian GP victories at the circuit, with five. Behind them, Alain Prost, Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen have each won three times at Monza.
“I’ve really reflected on the huge magnitude of being part of this Grand Prix. I didn’t even know, for example, that I was tied with Michael for wins,” Hamilton said.
“But the thought that there is a first achievement in front of me — in the sense that, if you win, you enter new territory: winning at Monza for the first time with Ferrari is something…” he continued.
“Obviously, I witnessed Charles [Leclerc] winning in 2019, when I was on the podium with him, but to do that myself here would be phenomenal. If I were to achieve that, I’d probably be the only Black driver to win with Ferrari in Italy. In history, probably. So there’s been a lot going through my mind,” Hamilton admitted.
“The pressure is high. On top of that, you want to deliver for the team. There are all those people back at the factory, many of whom come to this race. The Tifosi, who come in huge numbers, and the passion is unparalleled. You want to deliver for them as well. And my mum is here this weekend. I don’t think she’s ever been to Monza, but especially at a Ferrari weekend, I want her to experience this and bring all the luck she can,” he concluded.
Hamilton already has five victories at Monza, all achieved before his move to Ferrari. His first came with McLaren in 2012, while his four wins with Mercedes came in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018.
A sixth victory would therefore give Hamilton the outright record for wins at Monza and, at the same time, deliver his first triumph at the circuit as a Ferrari driver.
The Italian GP takes place this weekend, from September 4 to 6, at Monza. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover all the action from the Italian GP, the 13th round of the 2026 F1 season.
FAQ
1. How many times has Lewis Hamilton won at Monza?
Hamilton has won the Italian GP five times, matching Michael Schumacher’s record. His victories came with McLaren and Mercedes.
2. Has Hamilton won the Italian GP with Ferrari?
No. Hamilton has yet to win at Monza as a Ferrari driver. A victory this weekend would be his first for the Italian team.
3. What record could Hamilton break at Monza?
A sixth victory would give Hamilton the outright record for the most Italian GP wins at Monza, moving him ahead of Schumacher.
