Hamilton paints grim Italian GP picture as Ferrari face impossible Monza dilemma
Lewis Hamilton
A filmmaker with a soft spot for Ronnie Peterson, Gilles Villeneuve, Mika Hakkinen and above all, Tazio Nuvolari and Ayrton Senna, is also a diehard Formula One fan since the age of 4 (mid-90's). An avid researcher of the past of Grand Prix Racing since before it was even named F1, and with a thirst for knowledge of the ins and outs of the actuality of the sport, as well as for the technical aspects that define it, is a member of GPblog since 2023, where he has put his love of racing to good use.
Taking the practice session results at face value, it might've been argued that Ferrari were perhaps tipped for more during the Italian Grand Prix qualifying session. Scuderia driver Lewis Hamilton explains why it wasn't the case.
Taking a dominant Hamilton-led 1-2 during the first rpacetice session on Friday, with Leclerc reaffirming his P2 on Friday afternoon, and rounding off the top 3 on Saturday morning, it looked like the Scuderia was in the mix to get pole for the race in Monza.
Nevertheless, after qualifying the Monegasque stated that the Italians were only fighting for P5, P6, which was in line with what the Maranello-based team were expecting.
Speaking to GPblog, Hamilton then outlined the impossible to navigate scenario Ferrari faced in qualifying for their home race. What were they lacking at Monza?
"It's ultimately downforce," the Brit said.
"We're quick on the straight, but then in the middle sector, we're losing like three or four tenths, I think it was, and then a couple of tenths in the last sector.
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"So, we're just, lacking the load," he added.
Lewis Hamilton during FP2 in Monza
Ferrari can't make up the time in Monza
F1 often demands compromises, and at Monza, Ferrari chose where theirs would, in the end, lie, but due to a factor that may outline a fundamental weakness in their car, at least in terms of the particularities of the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza.
"We're quick on the straight. But if we went up on wing, we wouldn't, for some reason, the efficiency's just off.
"We can't catch that four heads in this middle sector," Hamilton concluded.
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Ferrari will line up in P4 with Leclerc leading the scarlet red team's home race charge. Despite quailifying in P5 right behind his teammate, Hamilton's 5-place grid drop penalty has seen him moved to the confines of the points-scoring places in P10.
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