Key takeaways
- High morale ahead of Monza: Lewis Hamilton highlighted Ferrari’s upward trajectory, stating the team enters the 2026 Italian GP in a vastly different place compared to last year.
- Chasing Mercedes and McLaren: Hamilton urged Ferrari to step up race execution and pace to close the gap to Mercedes and McLaren during the second half of the season.
- Championship standing: Hamilton sits 3rd in the Drivers’ Championship with 183 points, tied with George Russell, as Ferrari remains 2nd in the Constructors’ Standings.
Lewis Hamilton expressed strong optimism for the upcoming Italian Grand Prix, telling GRANDE PRÊMIO that Ferrari arrives at Monza in a completely different mental and competitive state compared to 2025.
Last season in Monza, Hamilton finished 6th after starting 10th, while teammate Charles Leclerc missed out on the podium. Heading into the 2026 edition, however, Hamilton already holds a race victory and five podiums this season, providing a much stronger foundation for Ferrari’s home event.
“Yes, and we are in a very different position compared to where we were last year,” Hamilton told GRANDE PRÊMIO during a post-race press conference in Zandvoort. “So yes, we are still second in the Constructors’ Championship, and we have plenty of positives to take from this first half. But in the coming races, we really need to step up the pace if we want any chance of beating these guys.“
In the Dutch Grand Prix, Hamilton led during the pit stop window but eventually fell back due to tire degradation, admitting Ferrari needs further development to match Mercedes’ race pace.
“It was certainly good to lead, but seeing those guys catching up, I thought: ‘Damn! Can I finish the race in this position?’ But they were approaching very quickly, unfortunately,” Hamilton explained. “So I think we have a lot of work to do to try and bridge the gap to those Mercedes guys.“
Hamilton currently sits third in the Drivers’ Standings with 183 points—tied with George Russell—behind championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli (242 points).
Hamilton’s pre-Monza reflections come amid key developments across the paddock, with Ferrari evaluating whether to deploy its upgraded power unit for the Italian GP, Lewis Hamilton emphasizing that Ferrari must execute race weekends better, and Williams fielding rookie Luke Browning in FP1 at Monza.
Formula 1 resumes action from September 4–6 at Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, the 13th round of the 2026 World Championship. GRANDE PRÊMIO provides complete live coverage of every session across all categories. Follow all updates on our news page.
World Championship Standings (Top 5 after Dutch GP)
| Pos | Driver | Team | Engine | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | Mercedes | 242 |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | Mercedes | 183 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | Ferrari | 183 |
| 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | Mercedes | 159 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | Ferrari | 155 |
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. Where does Lewis Hamilton sit in the 2026 Drivers’ Championship?
Lewis Hamilton sits 3rd in the Drivers’ Championship with 183 points, tied with Mercedes driver George Russell.
2. How did Ferrari perform at the Italian GP last season?
In 2025, Lewis Hamilton finished 6th after starting 10th on the grid, while Ferrari missed out on a podium finish at Monza.
3. When is the next race on the 2026 Formula 1 calendar?
Formula 1 returns to action from September 4–6, 2026, for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
