Lewis Hamilton flashes brilliance Monza as the seven-time world champion showed remarkable pace during the 2025 Italian Grand Prix weekend at Autodromo Nazionale Monza, despite facing difficulties throughout his debut season with Ferrari. Former champion and current pundit Nico Rosberg praised Hamilton’s performance, highlighting key moments where the British driver demonstrated his skill and determination.
Hamilton’s Challenging Start to the 2025 Season with Ferrari
This year has been a testing one for Lewis Hamilton with the Maranello-based Ferrari F1 squad. The SF-25 car has struggled for consistent pace, which has prevented Hamilton from reaching the podium in a full Grand Prix. Although the season has not gone as planned, Hamilton showed notable improvement and competitiveness during the Italian GP weekend.
At Monza, Hamilton’s qualifying pace closely matched that of his teammate Charles Leclerc. In a hard-fought session, Hamilton qualified fifth, just behind Leclerc’s time of 1:19.007 and barely over a tenth slower at 1:19.124. This reflected progress when compared to earlier races where Hamilton often lagged behind.
Race Performance and Recovery at Monza
Starting from tenth on the grid due to a five-place penalty, Hamilton showcased strong racecraft by advancing four positions to finish sixth. He ended the race right behind his former Mercedes teammate George Russell. This performance underlined Hamilton’s ability to maximize results despite setbacks and mechanical limitations.
Reflecting on this weekend during a recent Sky F1 podcast, Nico Rosberg remarked on Hamilton’s efforts:
“It was nice to see Lewis having a really solid weekend, feeling comfortable in the car, being quick at times, showing flashes of his brilliance. I think that was an important weekend for him, but at the same time it’s testament to how bad it was before. Just by him being close to Charles we’re all saying ‘this is a great weekend’, because so many mistakes before and troubles with pace also.”
—Nico Rosberg, Former F1 Champion and Pundit
After sixteen rounds in the 2025 season, Hamilton occupies sixth place in the drivers’ championship standings, reflecting a need to build on this momentum.
Support from the Italian Fans Boosted Hamilton’s Spirits
Lewis Hamilton’s reputation in Formula 1 remains strong, and the Italian Grand Prix was especially significant as Ferrari’s home race. Experiencing the passionate support of the Tifosi for the first time as a Ferrari driver, Hamilton received an emotional boost throughout the weekend that many believe enhanced his performance.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur highlighted the impact of the crowd during an interaction with F1 media, stating:
“I think the energy that he received from the Tifosi Wednesday, Thursday in [Milan] was something very special for him. I don’t know if it was expected from him or 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.”
—Fred Vasseur, Ferrari Team Principal
Looking Ahead to Azerbaijan and Beyond
With Round 17 of the 2025 Formula 1 season scheduled for September 19-21 at the Baku City Circuit in Azerbaijan, Hamilton and Ferrari will aim to carry the positive signs from Monza forward. The strong showing in Italy demonstrates Hamilton’s resilience and potential to recover competitive form as the season progresses.
Hamilton’s ability to deliver under pressure and adapt to the challenging SF-25 car will be crucial in securing improved results in upcoming races, while the backing of his passionate fan base remains a vital source of motivation. This weekend at Monza has set a hopeful tone for the remainder of his campaign with Ferrari.
