Zandvoort (Netherlands), Sep 1 (AP) - The Italian Grand Prix at Monza, often considered a magical venue for Ferrari fans, arrives at a crucial time for the team. This annual Formula 1 pilgrimage to the “Temple of Speed” offers the opportunity for both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to recover from their race-ending crashes at the recent Dutch Grand Prix. That event marked only the second time this season that Ferrari failed to score points, and Hamilton faces an added challenge with a grid penalty at Monza.
Kimi Antonelli, the sole Italian driver on the grid, aims to move past a practice crash at Monza last year and to make amends for his role in ending Leclerc’s race on Sunday. Success for Italian drivers at Monza has been elusive.
Lewis Hamilton's Unique Experience
There are few accomplishments in F1 that seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton hasn't achieved, but racing in Ferrari colors at Monza will be "unique." This marks Hamilton's 19th race at the famed Italian track but his first in red. Hamilton has expressed a renewed passion for racing with Ferrari despite a challenging start and described his Dutch Grand Prix crash as painful. Compounding his troubles, he received a five-place grid penalty for failing to slow for yellow flags before the Zandvoort race.
In May, Hamilton competed in Italy at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola, finishing fourth and dedicating his result to Ferrari fans. Yet, he still seeks his first podium finish in a Grand Prix for Ferrari. “The global support for this team from the Tifosi is unparalleled, and I'm sure this week will be a unique experience,” he shared last week.
A History of Excellence
Even during challenging seasons, Ferrari has often redefined its F1 campaigns with success at Monza. Notably, Gerhard Berger claimed an emotional victory in 1988 after the death of founder Enzo Ferrari. Leclerc enjoyed wins at Monza during his debut Ferrari season in 2019 and again last year.
“Our first experiences at Monza are going to be very different,” Leclerc remarked. “Lewis has already experienced so many memorable moments. But he's been through a lot more than I had at that time. I transitioned from Sauber to winning in Monza with Ferrari, which was surreal.”
Antonelli's Bad Memories
It has been two decades since an Italian driver stood on the Monza podium. Antonelli entered F1 with high expectations, succeeding Hamilton at Mercedes. His debut at Monza last year was marred by a crash just 10 minutes into his first practice session. “I have both wonderful and difficult memories,” Antonelli reflected last week. “It’s essential to focus on a clean weekend and discard past mistakes. It promises to be a special event."
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff admitted that putting Antonelli in the car last year was a gamble and "perhaps a mistake," but maintained that it would have been a confidence booster without the crash. Antonelli has managed to score points in two of his last nine races after a promising start to the 2025 season. He showed competitive pace at the Dutch Grand Prix until an attempt to overtake Leclerc led to the Ferrari driver crashing into the barrier. Mercedes has yet to announce their 2026 lineup, including Antonelli and teammate George Russell. (AP) AM AM AM
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