On Sunday, Lewis Hamilton is the most important race of his first Ferrari year. Can the record world champion in Monza save his season?
The pressure is huge, the crisis real, but there was a bit of sweet Ferrari life for Lewis Hamilton. In the heart of Milan, thousands were waiting in red, there were autographs and photos, and in the end the record world champion climbed to the balcony of the royal palace and spoke to the people.
“Incredibile,” called Hamilton into the microphone, and “Forza Ferrari: We need this energy on the weekend!” Because on Sunday (3:00 p.m./Sky) in Monza the most important race for Hamilton is the most important race of this difficult first year at Scuderia.
And as if the present was not already a challenge, the story is now also causing the story: Sunday in Monza is supposed to be a public holiday, because Niki Lauda won his first World Cup title in red exactly 50 years earlier. Ferrari therefore competes with a special paint and is reminiscent of the Austrian who died in 2019.
But this special home game takes place for Ferrari in troubled times. Last weekend in the Netherlands, the double-end for Charles Leclerc and Hamilton pressed the mood tremendously, in the World Cup ranking the two only occupied places five and six.
Hamilton’s achievements in particular are increasingly being seen critically. His accident in Zandvoort arose from a beginner’s error, and because he was there too quickly under the yellow flag, he has to go back five ranks in the start of Monza. He described the punishment as “pretty hardcore on Thursday, but I am motivated to catch up again”.
The Tifosi are still unconditionally inclined, the evening at the Milan Cathedral showed. “It was intense, I had to pinch myself,” said Hamilton, “there is so much love for this brand.” The race weekend is also sold out with 350,000 fans.
But Italy’s press is increasingly gruffing with this expensive new addition. “The biggest investment in Ferrari’s latest story may be profitable when looking for sponsors,” wrote the Corriere Della Sera recently: “However, it has proven to be a disaster so far.”
So the patience is finally around Ferrari, even with this most prominent Formula 1 driver of the present. Team boss Fred Vasseur also sees that, and he demands more time. The expectations are “huge, we have to manage them”, it is important to prepare the more successful times.
The view of Scuderia is going primarily into the future, in the coming year a completely new regulations will take place, and Hamilton and the team then know better. Efforts for the current season are less the focus – however, Monza is the big exception.
The high -speed route places different demands on cars than most in the calendar, and Ferrari has apparently prepared for this. An aggressive update in the form of a new rear wing is expected, because a triumph in Monza can save such a season. The model is the past year: At that time, Leclerc achieved a surprising, emotional victory thanks to a strong strategy.
At least one also needs Hamilton on Sunday, the path towards the podium is usually further than anyway. At least on Wednesday evening in Milan it didn’t matter a little, it was dreamed. “Sieges with the other teams are also fantastic,” Hamilton called to the fans: “But nothing is like Ferrari.”