MONZA, Italy — Ahead of this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has opened up about the profound historical magnitude of his move to Scuderia Ferrari, admitting that the dream of becoming the first Black Ferrari driver to win a race on Italian soil carries immense personal and symbolic significance.
As Formula 1 arrives at the iconic Autodromo Nazionale Monza for the 13th round of the 2026 season, Hamilton finds himself on the brink of multiple historic milestones.
Pondering the Magnitude of History
Speaking to reporters in the Monza paddock on Thursday, Hamilton reflected on what a victory in front of the passionate Tifosi would mean for his legacy. Currently tied with Michael Schumacher for the record of most Italian Grand Prix victories with five, the Briton is chasing an outright record-breaking sixth win—this time wearing the iconic red of Ferrari.
“I’ve really thought coming into this weekend, as I pondered, just thinking of the sheer magnitude of the concept… The thought that there’s a first ahead of me, in the sense that potentially, if I was to win, you go into new territory,” Hamilton shared.
“Winning in Monza for the first time with Ferrari is something I’ve witnessed Charles [Leclerc] win in 2019, when I was on the podium with him. But to do that while I’m here would be phenomenal. And the thought of if I did do that, probably I would be the only Black driver to ever do that for Ferrari in Italy in history, maybe, and so just a lot of those thoughts have been through my mind.”
Embracing the Pressure and the Tifosi Energy
Driving for Ferrari at Monza brings an unmatched level of expectation. The sea of red grandstands creates an atmosphere unlike anywhere else on the F1 calendar. Hamilton acknowledged that while the pressure is intense, he intends to channel the energy of the supporters.
Harnessing the unmatched passion of the Ferrari faithful to propel the car toward the front. Hamilton noted that his mother is attending the Italian Grand Prix this weekend, wanting her to experience a historic Ferrari weekend firsthand. Emphasizing that success at Monza requires a flawless collective execution across strategy, energy management, and car setup.
