Lewis Hamilton demonstrated notable speed during the 2025 Italian Grand Prix qualifying rounds in Monza, drawing praise from Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur. Hamilton, driving the SF-25, held pace alongside his teammate Charles Leclerc throughout the sessions, marking an encouraging improvement for the seven-time world champion.
While Hamilton ultimately secured fifth place in the final qualifying session with a lap time of 1:19.124, Leclerc edged ahead narrowly in fourth with a 1:19.007. Vasseur expressed optimism about Hamilton’s consistency during qualifying, highlighting the value of the British driver matching the pace of his teammate.
“He was there all the quali. They are matching together and this is good for us because it’s also pushing each other. Starting P10 is not the absolute dream but I’d rather start in P10 in Monza than Monaco.”
—Fred Vasseur, Ferrari Team Principal
Despite qualifying fifth, Hamilton will begin the Italian GP in 10th position due to a five-place grid penalty for a yellow flag violation incurred at the previous weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix. This places him behind Fernando Alonso and Yuki Tsunoda, starting from eighth and ninth respectively.
Hamilton Reflects on His Consistent Qualifying Session in Monza
Lewis Hamilton described his Monza qualifying performance as “solid,” acknowledging both improvements and areas for fine-tuning. Speaking to Formula 1 after the session, Hamilton admitted his final lap did not reach the level he had hoped, pointing to car balance adjustments as a key focus.
“I think it’s generally been a better weekend. It was definitely a solid Qualifying. I felt like I got pretty much most that I wanted out of it. think at the end, the last lap… the last lap just never is as good as you hope it’d be, and that’s something I’ve got to work on for sure with the balance that I have with the car. Otherwise, it was okay.”
—Lewis Hamilton, Racing Driver
Hamilton also conveyed his excitement about racing at Monza, emphasizing the unique atmosphere created by the passionate crowd. The enthusiastic support at Turn 1 adds a compelling dimension to his experience as a Ferrari driver.
“I’m so excited. Every time I get on track it’s just crazy. You get to Turn 1 and you see the crowd left and right, and they jump to their feet, so the support is like nothing I’ve ever seen.”
—Lewis Hamilton, Racing Driver
Prospects for Race Day from the Tenth Grid Slot
Starting from 10th position, Hamilton faces the challenge of navigating through a competitive field in Monza’s high-speed layout. With the SF-25 showing promising pace, the British driver is expected to make significant progress in the early laps of the race, contingent on a clean start.
His ability to overtake rivals like Fernando Alonso and Yuki Tsunoda will be critical in improving his race placement. The qualifying performance and Vasseur’s comments underscore a positive trajectory for Hamilton’s campaign with Ferrari, signaling a renewed competitiveness as the season advances.
