JUST IN:Lewis Hamilton CLAIMS That he’s solid Progress With his performance in M…Read more
JUST IN:Lewis Hamilton CLAIMS That he’s solid Progress With his performance in M…Read more
Hamilton Sees “Solid Progress” in Ferrari Debut at Monza
Lewis Hamilton has described his weekend at the Italian Grand Prix—his first in red Ferrari livery at Monza—as a step forward in adapting to his new team. Despite a five-place grid penalty carried over from the previous Grand Prix in the Netherlands, the seven-time world champion delivered a performance he deemed “solid progress” .
Hamilton showed immediate pace, topping the charts in Friday’s first practice session and securing a respectable fifth-place in qualifying, just behind teammate Charles Leclerc. However, the applied penalty dropped him to tenth on the starting grid . On race day, he climbed the order en route to a sixth-place finish—crossing the line within five seconds of George Russell and narrowly missing out on fourth place .
Reflecting on his effort, Hamilton said he “gave it everything” and held out hope that a fifth-place finish might have been possible had Ferrari pursued a more aggressive undercut strategy against Russell . He also expressed heartfelt gratitude to the tifosi, calling their support “incredible” and a source of motivation throughout the weekend .
Team principal Fred Vasseur echoed the optimism, pointing to “green shoots of recovery” following a challenging start to the season for both driver and team . Meanwhile, legendary driver Martin Brundle recognized a noticeable shift in Hamilton’s mood and mindset. He praised the Briton, remarking it was encouraging to see “a happier” Hamilton “from the past”—a racing driver he recalled fondly .
Echoing that sentiment, four-time world champion Alain Prost defended Hamilton’s performance amidst Ferrari’s ongoing struggles. Prost underscored that winning with Ferrari brings unique pressures, and insisted that Hamilton’s talent remains intact despite recent setbacks .
For Hamilton, Monza marked more than just a return to form—it was a confidence-building weekend. From struggling to adjust to Ferrari’s car earlier in the season, he seemed to gain traction both mentally and technically. While still adapting to a driving style that “doesn’t feel natural,” Hamilton revealed that through the race, he found pace and comfort, gradually improving his performance as the laps went on—a key sign of progress .
In a season beset by challenges—from a tough transition to reliability issues—Monza offered a glimmer of hope. Hamilton’s ability to claw back from 10th to finish in the points, combined with his refreshed morale and optimism, marked a meaningful turning point in his debut Ferrari campaign.
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