Ferrari’s decision to take a strategic risk with Lewis Hamilton during the 2025 Italian Grand Prix ultimately did not deliver the desired results, as explained by team principal Fred Vasseur. Starting from tenth place after a five-place grid penalty, Hamilton finished the race in sixth, unable to overtake George Russell despite showing strong pace early on. The race unfolded at Monza, where tyre management played a decisive role in the outcome of this intense battle.
Strategic Gamble on Tyres Proves Unsuccessful
At the beginning of the race, Hamilton made steady progress through the field, closing the gap to his former Mercedes team-mate George Russell. Russell, however, pitted significantly earlier than Hamilton, capitalizing on lower-than-expected tyre degradation seen throughout the grid. Hamilton’s extended stint on older tyres was a calculated move by Ferrari aimed at gaining a tire advantage in the latter stages of the race, but it did not pay off as hoped.
Fred Vasseur acknowledged the tactic’s failure:
“It’s not that the pace dropped. I think we were able to come back on Russell at the end of the first stint. Then we took a bet to extend and try to have a tyre advantage at the end, but the deg was too low and it didn’t work.”
Hamilton himself reflected on the strategy, saying,
“But I think it was the best way to try to overtake Russell on the track. Perhaps if I had to do it again, perhaps I would pit Lewis a bit earlier, but I think it was the best option to try something different.”
Technical Setup and Performance Margins Explored
When asked about the car’s setup and whether adjustments would have improved Hamilton’s chances, Vasseur indicated that marginal gains remained elusive across the weekend. He explained that choices such as downforce levels did not create large differences in lap times, but rather influenced the car’s performance spread across different parts of the track.
He noted,
“There is no big difference in terms of lap time with the different options. It’s more the spread of performance over the track. Either you are quicker in the straight line or in the Lesmo.”
Still, the variations were minimal.
“But overall, we are speaking about a couple of hundredths. For sure, it’s also linked to the track evolution. But it’s not there that we missed something.”
Vasseur emphasized the team needs more detailed analysis moving forward, adding that rival Red Bull will also review their strategies.
He admitted,
“For sure, we have still room for improvement on every single topic. When you are missing the P3 by 0.01 seconds yesterday, every single bit will make a difference.”
Positive Signs Amid a Challenging Race
Despite the disappointing final position, Hamilton demonstrated encouraging speed and competitiveness throughout the weekend compared to teammate Charles Leclerc. Ferrari sources highlighted an improved mood and greater confidence for Hamilton, crediting the enthusiastic support from the tifosi in Milan and Monza as a motivational factor.
Vasseur remarked,
“I think this started in Zandvoort last week. It’s difficult to say because the outcome of the weekend was not positive for him. But at the end of the day, the pace was better from the beginning compared to Charles. The mood was better.”
He also described Hamilton’s race fight with Russell, stating,
“During the race, he was fighting with Russell until lap 30. That means that he was back in a better position.”
The spirited energy from fans in Milan and Monza seemed to provide an extra boost:
“I think the energy that he received from the tifosi Wednesday, Thursday in Milano was something very special for him. I don’t know if it was expected from him. I don’t know what he was expecting from this. But it was something mega. And I think this gave him an extra boost all over the weekend.”
Regarding the grid penalty, Vasseur acknowledged its impact but emphasized the progress Hamilton made. He said,
“For sure, we had to serve the penalty. We knew from the beginning of the weekend that it was plus five. It’s not an easy one. But we came back behind Russell. And the pace was there from the first lap of FP1 to the last lap of the race.”
Looking Ahead for Ferrari and Hamilton
Ferrari’s gamble illustrated the challenges of balancing bold strategy against unpredictable race conditions, especially under intense pressure at their home event. Although the tyre gamble with Hamilton did not succeed this time, the team demonstrated that its competitiveness remains intact, with areas identified for improvement in setup and pit timing. The stronger performance and renewed energy from Hamilton this weekend will be key as Ferrari aims to refine their approach in upcoming races.
The results at Monza will likely prompt Ferrari’s engineers and strategists to review tyre strategies more critically, while Hamilton’s resilience in recovering positions despite penalties shows promise for his adaptation within the squad. Meanwhile, rivals such as Red Bull will continue to push the envelope, ensuring the 2025 Formula 1 season remains tightly contested.
