Hamilton Details Ferrari's 'Impossible' Monza Dilemma: Downforce Shortage Cripples Home GP Hopes

Despite promising practice session results, Ferrari faced an uphill battle during Italian Grand Prix qualifying. Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton offered insight into why the Scuderia struggled at their home race.

Why it matters:

Ferrari's performance at Monza, a track known for high speeds, highlighted a critical weakness in their car setup. Despite strong showings in practice, the team couldn't translate that into a pole position challenge, leaving fans questioning their strategy for the crucial home Grand Prix.

The details:

• Initial Hopes: Ferrari showed strong pace on Friday, with Charles Leclerc consistently in the top three during practice sessions, suggesting a fight for pole was possible.
• Reality Check: After qualifying, Leclerc confirmed the team's internal expectations were for P5 or P6, aligning with the actual outcome.
• Hamilton's Analysis: Speaking to GPblog, Lewis Hamilton pinpointed the core issue:
  • "It's ultimately downforce." Hamilton explained that while Ferrari was quick on the straights, they lost "three or four tenths" in the middle sector and a "couple of tenths in the last sector."
  • He added, "We're just, lacking the load." The car's efficiency was off, meaning increasing wing levels for more downforce would compromise their straight-line speed without making up the time in the corners.

What's next:

Ferrari will start their home race with Leclerc in P4. Hamilton, despite qualifying P5, will start from P10 due to a five-place grid penalty. The challenge for Ferrari will be to manage their car's limitations while capitalizing on any opportunities to secure a strong finish at Monza.