Hamilton Not Fantasizing Monza Podium Ahead of Ferrari Debut

Lewis Hamilton is set to make his Ferrari debut at Monza this weekend, yet remains without a podium finish since joining the Italian team for the 2025 season. Despite claiming Ferrari's first-ever Sprint victory in China and securing multiple fourth-place finishes, a top-three spot on a Sunday race has eluded him.

Why it matters: After a challenging period, including an incident at Turn 3 in Zandvoort, Hamilton expressed encouragement regarding his progress with the Scuderia. His highly anticipated debut in front of the passionate Tifosi at Monza carries significant weight, even if he's not focused on podium fantasies.

The details: When asked about imagining a Monza podium, Hamilton told GPblog:

• "Honestly, I haven’t [stopped to imagine], simply because I’ve been on the podium plenty of times here, so I know what it’s like to be up there."
• "I’ve seen how it’s been for other Ferrari drivers, and anything I try to imagine will be far from what that feeling could be." He emphasized the unique atmosphere of Monza:
• "Always, just coming here for anyone, no matter what team you drive for, it’s an incredible experience."
• "Being in this park, at this historic circuit, and then seeing the whole Tifosi throughout the pit straight."
• "Also when you do the parade lap, the fans are very close, so it feels like they’re right with you in the car. It’s pretty cool."

Grid Penalty for Monza: Hamilton will start his Monza campaign with a five-place grid penalty, handed down by stewards in Zandvoort for speeding under double yellow flags during the reconnaissance lap. He described the penalty, which also included penalty points, as "pretty hardcore."

What's next: Despite the setback, the seven-time world champion remains highly motivated. He stated his determination to "make up for those positions" and aims for his first Ferrari podium finish this weekend.