Lewis Hamilton expressed contentment with Ferrari's advancement throughout the season as part of his broader ambition to lead the team to a championship. Ferrari last claimed a title in 2008, yet the constructor remains in contention this season, with Hamilton trailing points leader Kimi Antonelli by 59.
Hamilton expressed confidence in his title prospects ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, where a grid penalty for a power unit infringement will see him start at the back as he looks to cut into Antonelli's points advantage. He argued that Antonelli's rear-grid starting position would pose little obstacle, given the car's power advantage over nearby rivals and its standing as the top-performing package throughout the season. Hamilton predicted that Antonelli would move up through the positions at pace.
Monza hosts the next round of the championship, with Ferrari aiming for victory on their home circuit. The team's stated priority is to extract maximum performance across the race weekend, drawing on the energy of the Tifosi crowd to drive themselves towards the front of the field.
The team went without a victory throughout the previous season, though adjustments Hamilton advocated for upon joining have contributed to an uplift in on-track output. He described the organisation as "a huge ship" and noted that a driver's role is to work alongside senior figures to guide it appropriately, adding that he had pushed through various technical changes to the car that had not been possible in the prior campaign. Negotiating those adjustments required considerable effort before agreement was reached.
Two factors were identified as relevant: the existing spending limit, and the fact that this approach had been standard practice throughout. Team principal Frédéric Vasseur endorsed those initiatives. While Ferrari's power unit remains behind Mercedes in performance, the constructor has posted improvements on the circuit throughout the campaign.
Upgraded power units, set to debut at Monza, are anticipated to reduce the performance deficit. At Zandvoort, a notably compact circuit, the team reported a deficit of four tenths of a second per lap during the most recent race. That shortfall has persisted throughout the year to this point.
Hamilton noted that every contribution, however small, makes a difference, and that watching new components arrive and get fitted to the vehicle each weekend has generated a sense of forward momentum within the team. He stated that visiting the facility and observing the workforce's focused dedication gives a sense of genuine satisfaction. The priorities this year, he indicated, have shifted in a notable direction.
A clear direction has been established, and the team has been credited with pulling together effectively to deliver results. Hamilton described the development as a step toward the stated goal.
