Lewis Hamilton has been reflecting on the profound significance of possibly becoming the first Black driver to win a Grand Prix for Ferrari on its home soil, a thought that has occupied his mind as the Italian Grand Prix at Monza approaches. The seven‑time world champion has enjoyed a markedly better second season with the Scuderia, highlighted by his inaugural win for the team in Barcelona last June, which has kept him within striking distance of the championship.
He now trails Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli by 59 points with eleven races left on the calendar. Hamilton’s chances of taking the top step at Monza have received an extra boost because Antonelli will be forced to start from the back of the grid after incurring a penalty for exceeding his allocated engine components. This grid drop for his main rival could open a strategic window for Hamilton to capitalize on. When asked what a potential 107th career victory would mean to him, Hamilton replied, "I’ve spent a lot of time this weekend thinking about the sheer scale of the idea that I could be standing on the top step at Monza.
I didn’t even realize I was tied with Michael Schumacher on five Monza wins until I looked at the numbers. The thought that there could be a ‘first’ ahead of me—if I win, I would be stepping into completely new territory—really resonates with me." He went on to recall witnessing Charles Leclerc’s triumph at the same circuit in 2019, a race where Hamilton was also on the podium. "Seeing Leclerc win was special, but to achieve that victory myself, in the colours of Ferrari, would be extraordinary. Moreover, I would likely become the only Black driver in history to win for Ferrari in Italy.
Those thoughts have been swirling in my head all week," he added. Hamilton also highlighted the pressure that comes with the historic stakes. "The pressure is immense.
You want to deliver for the team, for the people in the factory, and for the massive crowd of Tifosi who travel in huge numbers and bring an unmatched passion. My mother is coming to Monza this weekend—she’s never been to a Ferrari race before—so I want to give her a memory she’ll cherish and, perhaps, a little bit of lucky dust as well." The potential victory is further buoyed by Ferrari’s recent technical development: the team has introduced the second of two engine upgrades permitted for the 2026 season. Ferrari confirmed on Wednesday that they have taken advantage of the second opportunity to enhance their power unit, addressing what many have identified as the team’s biggest weakness this year—a power unit that has lagged behind the Mercedes engine, which also supplies McLaren. Hamilton commented on the upgrade, saying, "Every little bit helps.
Up until now we’ve been losing time, even on short circuits we were off by about four tenths of a second per lap. That adds up over a race and has been a huge deficit throughout the year. Seeing the factory working tirelessly, with everyone focused and enthusiastic, gives me confidence." He contrasted this season’s direction with the previous year, noting a clearer sense of purpose. "Last year we didn’t have a north star; we were doing our best but weren’t sure exactly what we were aiming for.
This year we have a clear target, a direction, and everyone knows what we need to achieve. The team has done a tremendous job pulling together and delivering incremental improvements. It’s not the whole gap closed yet, but each upgrade each weekend brings us closer. I still firmly believe we have what it takes to win." The weekend schedule is packed with support series and events leading up to the main race.
On Friday, September 4, the day begins with an F3 practice session at 7:30 am, followed by F2 practice at 8:55 am, and the first Italian Grand Prix practice at 11:00 am (the session actually starts at 11:30 am). The afternoon includes F3 qualifying at 12:55 pm, F2 qualifying at 1:50 pm, and the second Grand Prix practice at 2:35 pm (starting at 3:00 pm).
The day wraps up with The F1 Show at 4:15 pm, and the Team Bosses’ press conference at 5:20 pm. Saturday, September 5, kicks off with an F3 sprint at 8:25 am, then the third Grand Prix practice at 11:15 am (starting at 11:30 am), followed by an F2 sprint at 1:10 pm. The afternoon sees the build‑up to qualifying, with the Italian Grand Prix qualifying session commencing at 3:00 pm, and later, Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 5:00 pm.
Sunday, September 6, is the culmination of the weekend. The schedule begins with the F3 feature race at 7:10 am, the F2 feature race at 8:40 am, and the Porsche Supercup race at 10:40 am.
After a brief build‑up period, the Italian Grand Prix itself starts at 2:00 pm, followed by the chequered flag ceremony and post‑race reaction at 4:00 pm. The day concludes with Ted’s Notebook at 5:00 pm.
All sessions marked with an asterisk are also broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event. Formula 1 fans can watch the Monza showdown live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available through NOW without a contract and the option to cancel at any time. Hamilton’s blend of personal ambition, historic significance, and the technical strides made by Ferrari set the stage for a compelling narrative at one of the sport’s most iconic circuits.