Lewis Hamilton has acknowledged the pressure is mounting as he gets ready for his first race as a Ferrari driver at the team’s home Grand Prix in Italy this weekend. This comes after an unforced error led to a crash that ended his race at the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday.
The seven-time world champion had an unusual exit at Zandvoort when he ran wide on the painted surface outside turn three, which had become slippery due to light rain. He lost control of the car, which slid into the barriers, forcing him to retire.
It was far from the fresh start after the summer break that Hamilton had hoped for, following a challenging debut year with Ferrari. The car has struggled for pace, and adapting to the new team has been difficult, as he admitted after the incident.
“There’s obviously a huge amount of pressure on us as a team, and even more so on me now,” he said. “I haven’t had a good season. Next week, we’ll just try to absorb all the energy from the fans.”
Despite the setback, Hamilton remained confident, feeling that the weekend in the Netherlands had been a step forward for both him and the team, especially after a series of disappointing results before the summer break.
“I’m fine mentally, I’ve felt a lot of positives,” he said. “I felt I was making progress and catching the car ahead. It’s tough to have a result like that, but after racing for so long, incidents like this are rare.”
However, he now faces an additional challenge at Monza, having received a five-place grid penalty for not slowing sufficiently under yellow flags during the reconnaissance lap before Sunday’s race.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur said Hamilton remained optimistic. “We discussed after the race—he was much more positive than in the last few events,” Vasseur noted. “Sure, he lost the car, but his mood was positive because he can take a lot from the weekend and build confidence for Monza.”
Ferrari’s difficult weekend was compounded when Charles Leclerc collided with Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli. The Monegasque driver spun into the barriers and retired from the race. Antonelli, who had attempted a pass on the inside while Leclerc held the racing line, was given a 10-second penalty for the incident on lap 53.
Before the weekend, Hamilton had expressed his desire to start enjoying driving for Ferrari after a tough period under intense scrutiny following his move to the team. Vasseur believes the team is on track to help turn things around.
“To enjoy it, it’s largely about results, confidence, pace, and being competitive,” Vasseur said.On Sunday, Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team principal, explained why Lewis Hamilton felt the day had gone much better, even if the results didn’t show it. After the race in Zandvoort, Wolff also confirmed that George Russell will remain with the team for 2026, alongside Andrea Kimi Antonelli, though Russell’s contract has not yet been finalized. “I always say there won’t be any big announcements because we’re just continuing with both drivers, of course,” Wolff stated.
With Max Verstappen already confirmed to stay at Red Bull through 2026, it was widely expected that Mercedes would retain Russell. However, the final terms and duration of his contract are still to be confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Lewis Hamiltons preparation for the intense pressure at the Italian Grand Prix following his crash at Zandvoort
BeginnerLevel Questions
Q Why is the Italian Grand Prix such a big deal for Ferrari
A Its their home race held at their own circuit Monza The Italian fans are incredibly passionate and create a massive highpressure atmosphere that is overwhelmingly in favor of Ferrari
Q What happened to Lewis Hamilton at Zandvoort
A He crashed out of the Dutch Grand Prix due to heavy rain He lost control of his car and hit the barrier ending his race early
Q Does a crash like that affect a drivers confidence
A It can even for a 7time champion Its a physical and mental shock The key is how quickly they can reset and focus on the next race
Q What does pressure mean for a driver in this situation
A It means dealing with the intense scrutiny from media and fans the expectation to perform well at a rivals iconic track and the need to bounce back strongly from a mistake
Advanced Detailed Questions
Q How do drivers like Hamilton mentally reset after a DNF
A They rely on their experience and team Theyll analyze what went wrong with engineers accept it and then completely shift focus to the next challenge treating it as a new opportunity
Q What specific challenges does the Monza circuit present that Hamilton must prepare for
A Monza is all about extremely high top speed and heavy braking Preparation involves perfecting lowdownforce car setup managing tire wear over the long straights and nailing braking points into the chicanes
Q How might the passionate Tifosi crowd actually affect Hamiltons performance
A It can be a motivator Elite athletes often use a us against them mentality The boos and cheers for his rivals can fuel his focus and determination to silence the crowd with a great performance
Q What is the strategic importance of a good result for Mercedes at Monza after a setback
A Its crucial for momentum A strong result especially at a rivals home race is a huge morale booster for the entire
