“There’s clearly been a lot of pressure on us as a team. “We…I’m not having a good season.”
Lewis Hamilton must have been looking forward to Italian Grand Prix weekend as one of the highlights of her maiden season with Ferrari. The seven-time world champion sparked great excitement in Italy when he decided to switch from Mercedes and was welcomed as a hero to visit Maranello first. But aside from the sprint pole and victory in China, the highlights were difficult to get. Hamilton has shown signs of actual progress over the past few months, but the results have not continued. His comment was an endorsement of his situation after crashing himself at Zandvoort.
However, he reminded me why Monza is the highlight of his season despite the struggle when Ferrari filled the heart of Milan for a fan event and created the Red Sea at Piazza Duomo.
“Yesterday was a very unique experience,” says Hamilton. “I think I’ve already arrived at Maranello since yesterday morning, and when you walk and see the Ferrari logo, I still need to pinch myself.
“It’s really unique. There are always people outside the factory. I’ve never seen a fan outside the factory in any of my years. You’ll see it every time.
“To be in Milan, I was really in everything yesterday, looking at the fans and how passionate they were… amazing. It was intense, but very positive. I tried to take advantage of all the good energy they gave us.”
Hamilton’s idea is already more positive despite the five-place grid penalty given for not slowing down enough due to the double-waving yellow flag before the Dutch Grand Prix. He has been experiencing what Monza will look like before he gets back on track, motivating him before the race weekend.
But while being a Ferrari driver at the Italian Grand Prix is incredible, the highs that are part of the Scuderia mean that the lows are even more difficult. The passion surrounding a team is contagious, but passion alone doesn’t give you results. Hamilton says he’s learning the hard way that his mood can fluctuate as he pursues improvements and success.
“It was an emotional roller coaster,” he admits. “Did I think it would be unstable in terms of emotion? No. But it’s life. We had a difficult Sunday, but we come out on the bright edge of the tunnel.
“I recently read that there is no point in highlighting tomorrow. It often places shade in the present, so I don’t emphasize tomorrow. So I’m really trying to worry about tomorrow. I’m present and enjoying it, because half of the season has really gotten faster.
“I don’t want to miss these special moments. For example, my first Monza at Ferrari Red yesterday. If I leave the garage tomorrow, I’ll be very special to this circuit. Think about it when I watch Michael (Schumacher) win here.
“This weekend I want to give them absolutely everything to get the best results.
The results do not show that, but Hamilton feels he is making progress in unlocking the possibilities of his Ferrari SF-25. Zak Mauger/Getty Images
After Zandvoort, Hamilton and Ferrari dived deep into the reasons for his crash, but acknowledged that their approach to the race weekend had worked much better for them up to that point. It is a further hint of progress that is being made as both sides become more accustomed to how each other works, and that is an advance that they would like to continue to display under the intense scrutiny of Monza’s Tifosi.
“This (season) I’m going to really live my dreams and move on to a race with Ferrari…” he muse. “Of course, I was trying to think about it and prepare for it last year, but there are still things I couldn’t foresee. There were a lot of adjustments from both my side and the team. They really moved the heavens and the earth to accommodate me.
“There’s obviously a cultural difference. Fred (Vasseur, the principal of the team) commented that he probably underestimated my participation in the team.
“But honestly, the more difficult it can make you. This year has been tough for everyone on the team, but it prepares us for a better day. We’ve been through this tough first six months and it’s going to be strong.
The fairytale victory looks far away given the outcome of Hamilton this season and the penalties he already has. But Monza may just remind you how special it is for a 40-year-old to taste success at a Ferrari.
