Lewis Hamilton has described Ferrari's new engine package for the Italian Grand Prix as progress, though he acknowledged the team remains behind Mercedes on the straights. The upgraded power unit, which both Hamilton and team-mate Charles Leclerc are running this weekend, represents the second of two permitted engine developments Ferrari can introduce during the 2026 season.
Hamilton currently sits level on points with Mercedes driver George Russell in the drivers' championship, trailing leader Kimi Antonelli by 59 points. Both Hamilton and Leclerc have claimed one victory each so far this year, but Ferrari has struggled with straight-line speed throughout the campaign.
During Friday practice on 5 September 2026, Ferrari delivered a strong showing with Leclerc fastest and Hamilton second, but the session also revealed the scale of the challenge ahead. Hamilton finished 0.457 seconds off the pace in fifth position overall, describing the straight-line speed deficit to Mercedes as "considerable."
"Just looking at the deltas there, I was losing something like 0.6secs to George on the straights, which is something we need to look into,"Hamilton said after Friday running. He added that the new engine represented an improvement but acknowledged deployment challenges:
"The engine is an improvement, which I'm really grateful for the guys back at the factory for working on, but our deployment schedule is different to the others, our competitors. Seems like they maybe have less drag for the straights."
According to technical analysis, the upgraded engine package is expected to include a new turbocharger and revised combustion chamber, with some outlets estimating a performance gain of approximately 15 horsepower. The package was first developed following Ferrari's initial upgrade at the Austrian Grand Prix in June, which Hamilton used to secure a victory at that event.
Ferrari's corner speed has remained competitive throughout the season, but the deficit on the straights has consistently cost the team tenths of a second per lap. Monza, with its long straights and limited braking zones, presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the upgrade to demonstrate its effectiveness. Antonelli, despite his grid penalty, offered a more optimistic assessment:
"Ferrari definitely took a step forward with the new engine and now the speeds are the same. We know how good their car is in the corner and for sure it's going to be a tight fight for pole tomorrow."
What are the championship implications?
Antonelli's position as championship leader will be tested this weekend by a grid penalty for exceeding his permitted allocation of four engines for the season. The Mercedes driver is expected to start from the back of the grid, a consequence of reliability issues earlier in the year that forced the team to use additional power units. Mercedes chose Monza for the penalty despite the decision likely depriving Antonelli of a chance for a first home win, because they believe the long straights will give him a decent opportunity to recover a strong result.
Hamilton acknowledged the strategic thinking behind Mercedes' decision to take the penalty at Monza.
"There is big gap between the top teams and the rest. Kimi will start from the back but with the power he has, and the performance he has, he should slide through that pack pretty easy and it's probably why they chose this race to do that. So achieving eighth or sixth should be relatively easy."
George Russell, Hamilton's former Mercedes team-mate, is also expected to receive an engine penalty, most likely at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in two races' time. The staggered penalties allow Mercedes to manage their engine pool through the remainder of the season while minimising the impact on championship points.
How will the energy-starved conditions affect the race?
Monza's unique characteristics—dominated by high-speed straights with limited opportunities for energy recovery—will place the hybrid power units under significant strain. Drivers are expecting the battery systems to be depleted for a higher percentage of each lap than at most other circuits this season, creating challenging and potentially frustrating conditions.
Slipstreaming, which reduces drag and conserves energy, is expected to become a major tactical element in both qualifying and the race itself. Hamilton confirmed he would be seeking the tow from his team-mate during qualifying:
"The tow is everything here so likely to be looking for the tow."Antonelli predicted that the track's characteristics would offer opportunities to recover positions through the field, noting that
"It's a track where you can do so many different things, it was interesting in the long run today running behind other cars and seeing what they were doing differently, where they were deploying compared to us."
What does Hamilton need to win at Monza?
For Hamilton, a victory at Monza would carry profound significance.
"To win this weekend, the whole collective has to come together. Everything has to flow from the beginning,"he said.
"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 seven-time world champion emphasised the emotional weight of the occasion, noting the passion of the Italian fans and the presence of his mother at the circuit.
"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 was) with Ferrari. I wanted her to experience this and bring any lucky dust she can bring."
Hamilton's recent form has shown improvement following his Austrian victory, though Ferrari's setback at that same event highlighted the inconsistency the team has faced this season. The new engine upgrade, combined with the team's existing corner-speed advantage, provides a foundation for a competitive weekend, but Hamilton was realistic about the challenges ahead. He also complained about the balance of the car during Friday running:
"It was really difficult to pull a lap out of the car. It was not an easy one to drive in P2 for some reason. We made a couple of changes but it shouldn't really have been bad. We are going to look and see if we can make the car better for tomorrow."
Hamilton's arrival in an iconic Ferrari
Hamilton arrived at Monza on Thursday for media day in a 1980s Ferrari F40, a car he described as a long-held dream. The supercar, which he drove to the circuit to highlight Ferrari's historical significance, carries a remarkable personal connection to the driver.
The particular F40 Hamilton selected has an extraordinary provenance: it was purchased by its previous owner, who drove it just 69 kilometres from Maranello to his home and then left it parked, never driving it again. After extensive consideration about whether to preserve it as an art piece or restore it to working condition, Hamilton chose to bring it back to life.
"I have been looking for one for a while. I wanted one with low mileage and a story behind it. Lots have come up at auction but not particularly special. Or the paint's been redone. I wanted to find the most authentic one."
The discovery of an unexpected detail deepened Hamilton's sense of connection to the machine.
"When they were taking the car apart... it has 44 stamped on the engine. I couldn't believe it. So it feels very much fate."Hamilton's race number is 44, a coincidence he found remarkable. He added:
"I might be wrong but none of the Ferrari drivers in history have ever arrived in the coolest car in history."
How are other teams performing?
Friday practice revealed a competitive battle shaping up for the weekend. Lando Norris, who has won both of the last two grands prix from pole position, found Monza more challenging than recent races.
"Much trickier than the last few Fridays,"Norris said.
"We are struggling for pace quite a lot more than the last few. We will see what we can change overnight but we are not in as good a position as the last few weekends."
Red Bull's Max Verstappen, still yet to win a race this year, was 0.818 seconds off the pace in ninth position. The race simulations on Friday proved inconclusive as different teams used different tyre compounds, though they suggested Mercedes and Ferrari are the leading contenders so far this weekend. Oliver Bearman's Haas benefited from the new Ferrari engine upgrade, unlike team-mate Esteban Ocon.
What happens next?
Practice 3 is scheduled for 5 September 2026, with qualifying also taking place on 5 September at 3:00pm BST. The Italian Grand Prix race itself is scheduled for 6 September 2026 at 2:00pm BST. The race marks the 15th round of the 2026 F1 season and represents a crucial opportunity for both Hamilton and Ferrari to demonstrate the effectiveness of their new engine package against competitors including McLaren and Red Bull, who are also expected to be competitive at Monza.
Away from the track, Formula 1 has announced a three-day fan event scheduled for Milan on 18-20 February, which will succeed the F1 Live event held in London in 2025 and will feature all 11 teams and their drivers alongside music and entertainment.
