SportyTV | Italian Grand Prix: Hamilton confident Ferrari have taken 'step forward' with engine upgrade

Lewis Hamilton believes Ferrari's engine upgrade for the Italian Grand Prix is a "step forward, but not the whole amount we need".

Ferrari have introduced a new engine upgrade ahead of their home race at Monza in the hopes that it will help them put the pressure on Mercedes, who currently lead the way in both the drivers' and constructors' championships.

Kimi Antonelli has won six Formula One races this year, and George Russel a further two, while Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have one win apiece.

McLaren are also upping the pressure, with reigning world champion Lando Norris prevailing in each of the last two races, meaning Ferrari are in need of a win to stay in the mix at the top.

Ferrari have been the fastest on corners this season, but have struggled on the straights, and Hamilton is hopeful the new improvements will bridge the gap.

"Every little helps. Until this point of the year, even last race, we were losing 0.4secs a lap [on the straights]. We have carried that deficit," Hamilton said.

"This is a step forward. It is not the whole amount we need, but we knew that was the case. I strongly believe we have what it takes to win.

"To win this weekend, the whole collective has to come together. Everything has to flow from the beginning.

Combining the new with the old pic.twitter.com/g5PLOmkxbe
— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) September 3, 2026

"There is a first ahead of me, in the sense of if I was to win, I go into new territory, winning for the first time in Ferrari at Monza. It would be phenomenal.

"The pressure's high. You want to do it for the team. Many of them will come to this race. The tifosi come out in huge numbers with a passion that's unmatched.

"And my mum's here. I don't think she's been to Monza, and certainly not [while I have been] with Ferrari. I wanted her to experience this and bring any lucky dust she can bring."

Ferrari endured a disappointing run at Monza last year, with fourth and sixth-place finishes respectively.

They are also helped by Kimi Antonelli's grid penalty for exceeding his permitted number of engine parts, and he will start at the back.

"There is a big gap between the top teams and the rest," Hamilton added.

"Kimi will start from the back, but with the power he has, and the performance he has, he should slide through that pack pretty easily, and it's probably why they chose this race to do that.

"So, achieving eighth or sixth should be relatively easy. We have to focus on maximising our weekend and try and take the energy from the tifosi to hopefully push us to the front."

DRIVERS TO WATCH

Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari

Hamilton has recorded eight podium finishes at the Italian Grand Prix (five wins, two second places and one third place).

This weekend he could become the driver with the most podium finishes at this race in F1 history with another top-three finish (Michael Schumacher also has eight).

However, he has not stood on the podium since 2019 (third).

Hamilton is also the last driver to claim consecutive poles at the Italian Grand Prix, taking four between 2014 and 2017.

Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes

Antonelli has finished on the podium 10 times in 2026, but faces a tough ask to do so at Monza due to his penalty.

If he claims another, it will be the first time Italy has seen 11 podium finishes in a single season since 1989 (13 – six for Riccardo Patrese, four for Alessandro Nannini, and one each for Michele Alboreto, Stefano Modena and Andrea de Cesaris).

Mercedes have had at least one of their two drivers on the podium in each of the first 12 Grands Prix of 2026.

They have only achieved a longer run once, with podium finishes in 13 or more of the opening races in 2014 (19).

Kimi Antonelli will take a grid penalty for the Italian Grand Prix as a result of a planned engine change

The Drivers' Championship leader will start from the back of the grid on Sunday#F1 #ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/QrrWylkzNj
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 3, 2026