During the Drivers’ Press Conference ahead of the 2026 F1 Italian GP Lewis Hamilton discussed what it would mean to win in Monza with Ferrari as well as how difficult it will be to manage the energy output.
Monza is known as the fastest track in Formula 1 and frequently reffered to as ‘The Temple of Speed.’ However, there have been questions surrounding how the 2026 cars will handle the track.
Hamilton on the upgrades Ferrari are bringing to the 2026 F1 Italian GP
Ferrari are bringing a power unit upgrade to the Italian GP this weekend. They are looking for a way to get back onto the top step of the podium. During the Drivers’ Press Conference ahead of the Italian GP, Lewis Hamilton discussed the problems Ferrari have been facing during the 2026 season on the straights, losing as much as “four tenths a lap through a race.”
“So that’s a huge deficit and we’ve carried that through the year to this point. And what I can say is I’m just really, really proud of when I go back to the factory and I see how hard everyone is working, that they’re really just heads down. Everyone’s so enthusiastic.
“I see a different focus this year to last year. Last year, I felt like there wasn’t really a North Star. We were kind of, I think, doing the best we could. But not really knowing where exactly we’re trying to aim for. And now we have a North Star. We know we need to work towards. And I think they’ve done a tremendous job to really pull together and deliver.
“And this is a step forward. It’s not the whole gap that we need, but we knew that would be the case. But to see bits coming each weekend. Adding to the car, it’s exciting to see that we are pushing. And you know, strongly still believe that we’ve got what it takes to win.”
Lewis Hamilton discusses how he has worked with Ferrari behind the scenes
Ferrari are bringing a special livery to Monza to celebrate 30 years since Michael Schumacher joined the team. The livery also honours the legacy and significance the 7-time World Champion left at Ferrari.
During Thursday’s Press Conference, Hamilton was asked whether he has taken any inspiration from Schumacher in terms of how he’s working with the team.
As well as this, Hamilton discussed the work he has put in behind the scenes to help get Ferrari to where they are now.
“Well, I mean, I haven’t taken a page out of Michael’s book in that sense. I think, obviously, I wasn’t here in the team when, obviously, there was a big narrative of Michael turning the team around. But ultimately, it’s a combination of many, many people. And there’s no “I” in team. I think it’s like a huge ship and it’s the driver’s job to work alongside the head figures to try and steer it in the right direction.
“I think the positive thing, the opportunistic thing for a new driver coming in with experience, who has experienced two different teams, when you come from outside, when you’re in it, it’s sometimes hard to see the wood for the trees, you know. And it’s when someone comes in. Even if new engineers come in from different places, straight away they say, “Oh, we did this differently,” and not necessarily that’s a better way. But it’s just sometimes different approaches. It’s quite phenomenal, really, if you think that all these teams have the same rules. They do everything differently to get to the same sort of… and then the cars on track are within a tenth.
“You know, it’s quite phenomenal, and that’s really what makes our sport so great. I think, for me, I pushed for a lot of changes within the car. Which last year we couldn’t do. One, because of [Cost] Cap, two, because it’s what they’ve done all the time and it’s like, “Why should we change it?”. So, it took a lot of persuading to get some of those changes done. And then some of them were expensive and they took a longer process.
“So, I worked in the sim and requested that they design it for the sim. And I tested in the sim last year, and then they added it as options for the car that we use every weekend. Yeah, so just kind of the whole goal was, coming from an outside perspective. Looking at all the things they do well, and nobody does everything perfect. Highlighting the things that are maybe good or not as good and saying, “Hey, we need to level up in all these areas.” And that’s what I try to do.
“I think Fred even said there were some things on the list that he just can’t do because it’s too expensive. But I’m grateful for the ones that he has allowed to happen. And I feel proud to see the progress that we’ve made.”
Lewis Hamilton on how difficult it will be to drive at the ‘Temple of Speed’ in the 2026 F1 cars
Monza is known as the fastest track on the F1 Calendar. It is know as the ‘Temple of Speed’. However, with the 2026 regualtions, questions have arisen about how challenging it will be for the drivers.
Monza’s long straights mean that the 2026 cars are going to run out of battery easily. Lewis Hamilton discussed how difficult it will be to drive at the 2026 F1 Italian GP.
“I don’t know. It’s always tough with these cars to manage the power units. It’s kind of crazy to come here. We probably have more downforce through the corners than we did last year. Because, obviously, with the drag reduction system, you can obviously run, we run the same wing that we ran in the last race, for example.But obviously down the straights with the reduction system, it’s still quick, but then we lose this power.
“We arrive maybe 20 or 30 kilometres slower than we have in the past at the end, going into the corners, which will probably take some getting used to. It was always amazing to arrive here and just hear the engine screaming at the end of the straight and pulling and pulling and pulling just up into the braking zone. That won’t be the case this weekend. Likely, the drivers will be downshifting before they get to the braking zone. Which, for me, still doesn’t feel ultimately the best, but it is what we have. And optimising how you apply your throttle and get into full power, activating these systems, the situation we have. I mean, it’s all very, very technical and tricky, and we’re all faced with the same issue.”
Hamilton on what it would mean to win the 2026 F1 Italian GP for Ferrari
As Ferrari are bringing upgrades to the 2026 Italian GP, Lewis Hamilton stated that he “strongly believes that the team has what it takes to win”.
During the 2026 F1 season, Ferrari have won 2 out of 12 races. Ferrari hadn’t been on the top step of the podium during the entire 2025 season. Hamilton scored the team their first win in 2026 at the Barcelona-Catalunya GP. This was also the 7-time World Champions first win since Spa in 2024.
Ahead of the 2026 F1 Italian GP, Hamilton discussed how important it would be to win for Ferrari at their home GP in Monza.
“Well, my point was that I strongly believe that the team has what it takes to win. And at this level, how close it is at the front. I think for us to win this weekend, and any weekend, it takes the whole collective has to come together. It’s not just one thing.
“Everything has to flow from the beginning. And I’ve really thought coming into this weekend, as I pondered, just thinking of the sheer magnitude of the concept that I’m coming to this Grand Prix. I didn’t even know that I was equal with Michael in wins, for example, but the thought of that, that there’s a first ahead of me in a sense of potentially… But if I was to win, you go into new territory. Winning in Monza for the first time with Ferrari is something.
“I’ve witnessed Charles win, obviously, in 2019 when I was on the podium with him. But to do it whilst I’m here would be phenomenal. And probably the thought of, if I did do that, probably will be the only black driver to ever do that for Ferrari in Italy, probably in history. So just a lot of those thoughts have been through my mind.
“The pressure is high and you also want to deliver for the team. There are all those people at the factory, many of them will get to come to this race. The Tifosi who come out in huge numbers and the passion is unmatched, and you want to deliver for them as well. And my mum’s here this weekend because she’s never experienced, she’s never actually, I don’t think, been to Monza. But also, particularly on a Ferrari weekend. And I wanted her to experience that and, you know, bring any of the lucky dust she can bring.”
