Ferrari Makes Bold Hamilton Podium Prediction After Italian GP Surge

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur believes Lewis Hamilton is poised to break his unprecedented 17-Grand Prix podium drought this very season. Vasseur's confidence stems from Hamilton's recent performances, particularly at Zandvoort and the Italian Grand Prix.

Why it matters:

Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, has never before gone this long without a podium finish in his illustrious F1 career. Breaking this streak would be a significant morale boost for both the driver and his future team, Ferrari.

The details:

Following the Italian Grand Prix, Vasseur told GPblog that Hamilton's ability to fight with George Russell at Zandvoort and close the gap at Monza suggests a podium is within reach.

• Zandvoort Performance: Hamilton came back from P10 to challenge Russell.
• Monza Pace: Vasseur noted the gap to competitors was the smallest all season across practice, qualifying, and the race.

"Russell was a couple of times on the podium, yes we can expect to be on the podium," Vasseur stated, emphasizing the expectation for Hamilton.

The big picture:

Despite Ferrari not achieving a podium at their home race in Monza, Vasseur remained optimistic, highlighting the team's improved performance relative to top contenders like McLaren.

• Reduced Gap: Ferrari was only a tenth off the front row in qualifying and showed the smallest gap to McLaren in the race.
• Overall Improvement: Vasseur acknowledged, "It's true also that even in the race it's the smallest gap with McLaren, It was also the smallest gap in FP3, the smallest gap in qualy, in FP1 and I think we are in a better shape this weekend."

What's next:

Vasseur's comments indicate a strong belief that Ferrari, with Hamilton, is on the cusp of a breakthrough. The focus now shifts to upcoming races where both the team's performance trajectory and Hamilton's quest for a podium will be closely watched.