Lewis Hamilton stated that the upgraded Ferrari engine intended for this weekend's Italian Grand Prix represents a partial improvement, noting it is "a step forward but not the whole amount we need." The seven-time world champion is aiming for a win at Monza, a track he has yet to conquer with Ferrari.
Both Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc have secured one race victory this season. Hamilton currently trails championship leader Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes by 59 points. "To win this weekend, the whole collective has to come together. Everything has to flow from the beginning," Hamilton said. "There is a first ahead of me, in the sense of if I was to win I go into new territory winning for the first time in Ferrari at Monza. It would be phenomenal."
The pressure to perform at Ferrari's home race is amplified by the passionate local support. "The pressure's high. You want to do it for the team. Many of them will come to this race. The tifosi come out in huge numbers with a passion that's unmatched," Hamilton added. His mother is also attending the event, which he hopes will bring good fortune.
Ferrari's prospects for a home victory are bolstered by the expectation that Antonelli will incur a grid penalty for exceeding his engine part allocation, likely forcing him to start from the back of the grid. "There is big gap between the top teams and the rest. Kimi will start from the back but with the power he has, and the performance he has, he should slide through that pack pretty easy and it's probably why they chose this race to do that," Hamilton commented.
Antonelli's grid penalty was anticipated due to reliability issues earlier in the season that necessitated exceeding the season's engine limit. The team strategically chose Monza for this penalty, calculating it as the optimal race considering the new engine's potential on a straights-dominant track and for managing the remaining engine pool. Antonelli's teammate, George Russell, is also expected to face a similar penalty, possibly at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in two races' time.
Despite the penalty, Antonelli expressed anticipation for the weekend. "I am very much looking forward to this weekend despite starting from the back. I will be able to enjoy it more than I did previously and hopefully we will still be able to have a good race," he stated. He acknowledged that while it might reduce some pressure, he would prefer to compete for pole position. "In some ways it helps to release pressure, although I would very much rather fight for pole and start at the front," Antonelli said. He anticipates that Monza could be a strong track for his car, but acknowledged the competitive threat from McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull.