Lewis Hamilton sounds Ferrari alarm after striking Mercedes deficit

Lewis Hamilton has sounded the Ferrari alarm after revealing a significant straight-line speed deficit to Mercedes on the opening day of the Italian Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion finished fifth in FP2, nearly five-tenths adrift of pacesetter George Russell and over three-tenths slower than teammate Charles Leclerc.

Why it matters:

Ferrari introduced its second upgrade of the season at Monza under the Additional Developments Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) scheme, hoping to close the gap to the frontrunners. But Hamilton's comments suggest the SF-26 still lacks the top-end pace needed to challenge Mercedes on a track that rewards straight-line performance.

The details:

• Hamilton revealed he was losing around six-tenths to Russell on the straights alone, calling it "considerable to worry about."
• The car performed well in low-speed corners, but Monza's high-speed sections exposed the deficit.
• Hamilton praised the new power unit, saying it feels "really nice to drive in the low speed," but the overall balance was difficult to manage in FP2.
• He had looked strong in FP1, but changes for FP2 didn't deliver the expected improvement, and the team may revert some elements.
• Leclerc was faster, highlighting the gap between the two drivers.

What's next:

More changes are expected ahead of Saturday, with Hamilton saying the team will look to make the car "far better." With qualifying at Monza, Ferrari needs to find a solution quickly to avoid falling further behind Mercedes.