Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari's engine is an improvement, but Mercedes holds a 'considerable' straight-line speed advantage at the Italian Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton has voiced concerns that Ferrari, despite introducing a new engine, still lags significantly behind his Mercedes team on the high-speed straights at the Italian Grand Prix. His comments came after Friday's practice sessions at Monza, where straight-line speed proved to be a critical factor.
The opening day saw Mercedes' George Russell top the time sheets, finishing 0.120 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Hamilton himself placed fifth, 0.457 seconds off Russell's pace, also behind Mercedes teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli and McLaren’s Lando Norris.
The British driver specifically highlighted a "considerable" deficit to Mercedes on the straights. He estimated losing approximately 0.6 seconds to George Russell on the straights alone, a critical area for investigation, according to reporting by BBC Sport - Formula 1.
Hamilton's Assessment of Ferrari's Engine and Car Balance
Hamilton acknowledged the new Ferrari engine as "an improvement" and expressed gratitude to the factory teams for their work. However, he suggested that Mercedes might have a different energy deployment strategy or potentially less drag, giving them an edge on the fast Monza layout.
Beyond straight-line speed, Hamilton also noted difficulties with his car's handling during Friday's second practice session. "It was really difficult to pull a lap out of the car," he stated, adding that it was "not an easy one to drive in P2 for some reason."
Looking ahead to qualifying, Hamilton stressed the crucial role of slipstreaming at Monza. "The tow is everything here," he commented, indicating his intention to seek out a drafting partner to maximize lap time in what could become a tactically complex session.
Antonelli's Perspective and Grid Penalty Impact
Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who currently leads the world championship by 59 points over Hamilton and Russell, offered a contrasting view on Ferrari’s new engine. Antonelli believes that with the upgrade, "now the speeds are the same."
Despite his strong championship position, Antonelli faces a challenging weekend as he will start the Italian Grand Prix from the back of the grid. This penalty stems from using more engine parts than permitted, a strategic decision by Mercedes to serve the penalty at Monza, hoping long straights will aid recovery.
Antonelli focused heavily on race simulations during practice, collecting significant data. He noted the unique opportunities at Monza to learn from running behind other cars, observing their deployment strategies, suggesting a detailed approach to overcome his grid disadvantage.
McLaren and Red Bull's Friday Performance
For McLaren, Monza presented a tougher challenge than recent races, a scenario Lando Norris anticipated. He described Friday as "much trickier than the last few Fridays," admitting they were "struggling for pace quite a lot more" than in previous weekends.
Norris explained that McLaren was losing time "a bit everywhere," particularly in high-speed corners, an area where they typically excel. While expecting some loss on the straights compared to Mercedes, the unexpected deficit in fast corners made their Friday more concerning.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, surprisingly still without a win this year, finished ninth fastest, 0.818 seconds adrift of the leading pace. His performance placed him behind the Racing Bulls of Arvid Lindblad and Oliver Bearman's Haas, indicating a difficult start to his Italian Grand Prix weekend.
Inconclusive Race Pace and Leading Contenders
The race-simulation runs conducted on Friday offered an initial, albeit inconclusive, glimpse into absolute pace due to differing tire strategies. Mercedes utilized hard compound tires, Ferrari opted for softs, and Verstappen ran on mediums, making direct comparisons complex.
On the hard compound, Mercedes appeared decisively fastest, with Antonelli just 0.038 seconds on average quicker than Russell. McLaren drivers Norris and Oscar Piastri were roughly 0.5 seconds slower. Hamilton and Leclerc, on soft tires, trailed Mercedes by less than 0.2 seconds.
Verstappen, using medium tires, was approximately 0.3 seconds behind Antonelli's pace. This early data suggests that Mercedes and Ferrari emerge as the primary contenders for the Italian Grand Prix weekend, with Haas's Oliver Bearman also showing promising pace with the new Ferrari engine upgrade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Lewis Hamilton concerned about straight-line speed at Monza?
Lewis Hamilton is concerned because he observed Mercedes holds a "considerable" straight-line speed advantage over Ferrari, estimating a loss of 0.6 seconds to George Russell on the straights during Friday practice at the Italian Grand Prix.
What is the impact of Andrea Kimi Antonelli's grid penalty at the Italian GP?
Andrea Kimi Antonelli will start the Italian Grand Prix from the back of the grid due to using more engine parts than permitted. Mercedes chose Monza for this penalty, hoping the long straights will allow him to recover positions and achieve a strong result despite the setback.
How did McLaren and Red Bull perform in Friday practice at Monza?
McLaren's Lando Norris found Friday "much trickier," struggling for pace and losing time on both straights and high-speed corners. Red Bull's Max Verstappen also had a difficult day, finishing ninth fastest and 0.818 seconds off the pace.
What early conclusions can be drawn about race pace from Friday practice?
While inconclusive due to varying tire compounds, Friday's race simulations suggest Mercedes and Ferrari are the leading contenders. Mercedes appeared decisively fastest on hard tires, with Ferrari and Hamilton on softs also showing strong competitive pace.
Did the new Ferrari engine improve performance for other teams?
Yes, Haas driver Oliver Bearman was noted to be benefiting from the new Ferrari engine, in addition to an upgrade on his Haas car, unlike his teammate Esteban Ocon. This indicates the engine upgrade has a positive impact beyond the Ferrari works team.