Hamilton: Mercedes' top speed edge a 'considerable' worry for Ferrari at Monza

Ferrari brought an engine upgrade to Monza, but Lewis Hamilton is worried that Mercedes still holds a decisive top speed advantage that could prove crucial for the Italian Grand Prix.

Hamilton trailed George Russell by 0.457s in FP2, with the Mercedes driver setting the pace ahead of Charles Leclerc. The seven-time champion lost around six-tenths to Russell just on the straights, a gap he described as "considerable to worry about."

Why it matters:

Monza is the ultimate power circuit, where top speed often dictates the outcome. For Ferrari, performing well at home is a priority, but Hamilton's concerns suggest the Scuderia still has work to do despite its engine upgrade. The new power unit is understood to deliver an extra 15bhp, estimated to halve the deficit to Mercedes, but it hasn't erased the gap entirely.

The details:

• Hamilton reported losing roughly six-tenths to Russell on the straights alone, while also struggling with car balance in FP2.
• Set-up changes made between sessions appeared to backfire, and Hamilton said the car was "really, really hard" to drive, prompting the team to consider reverting.
• The Ferrari driver approved the upgraded engine, praising the factory effort, but noted the deployment schedule differs from rivals.
• Team boss Fred Vasseur downplayed the engine as the sole factor, pointing to drag and car weight as other contributors: "It's not just the engine. We did a step for sure... But I think we still have a decent gap."

What's next:

Ferrari will analyze the data before FP3 and qualifying, where Monza's long straights will again expose any straight-line weakness. Hamilton remains hopeful but realistic: "We're going to look and see if we can make the car better."