Hamilton: Ferrari Podiums Still 'Off the Cards' Despite Monza Progress

Hamilton Doubts Ferrari's Immediate Podium Prospects Lewis Hamilton believes Ferrari's current form is still insufficient to challenge for podiums on merit, even as he admits he remains short of full comfort in the Scuderia's SF-25 despite signs of progress at Monza. The Briton finished sixth in the Italian Grand Prix, climbing from 10th on the grid, and though he felt fifth was possible with sharper strategy, Hamilton conceded the gap to the front-runners is still too great.### Why It MattersFerrari's on-track performance and driver comfort are crucial indicators for their season's trajectory. Hamilton's frank assessment highlights the continuing gap to F1's top teams, tempering expectations for consistent podium finishes.### The Details* Monza Performance: Hamilton secured a sixth-place finish at the Italian Grand Prix after starting 10th due to a grid penalty. He was encouraged by progress but realistic about the car's limitations.* Car Comfort: "Definitely I’m still not 100% comfortable in the car," Hamilton stated, indicating ongoing challenges with the SF-25.* Pace Deficit: He believes competing for the top three is "off the cards for a while," citing the superior pace of Red Bull and McLaren.* Car Characteristics: Rivals, including Oscar Piastri, observed Ferrari's strong straight-line speed but noted its comparative struggles in high-speed corners.### Strategic MisstepHamilton felt a fifth-place finish was within reach but was compromised by Ferrari's pit strategy. The team did not counter George Russell's undercut attempt, which caused Hamilton to lose track position to Esteban Ocon and Lance Stroll."I think I could have got fifth today," Hamilton explained. "We should have tried to undercut him. But we missed that opportunity, then I was miles behind after that."### What's NextWith Charles Leclerc finishing fourth and Hamilton sixth, Ferrari's performance at Monza showed promise but also underscored the significant work still needed to consistently challenge the frontrunners. The team will focus on optimizing race strategy and improving the SF-25's all-around cornering performance in the coming races.