Hamilton worried about Ferrari top speed after Monza practice

Monza, Italy – Lewis Hamilton has sounded the alarm about Ferrari's top speed after the first day of practice at the Monza circuit, where the Italian team was expected to shine in front of thousands of tifosi. Despite Charles Leclerc leading FP1, Hamilton could only manage fifth in FP2, 0.457 seconds behind his future teammate George Russell of Mercedes. The issue is not just about lap time. Hamilton estimates he is losing up to 0.6 seconds to Russell on the long straights of Monza – a concerning figure at a track where approximately 75% of the lap is full throttle. "Their straight-line speed is considerable to worry about," the British driver told reporters in the paddock. Ferrari brought to Monza an engine upgrade under the ADUO mechanism, permitted during the power unit development freeze, with an estimated 15 horsepower increase. Hamilton confirmed he approved the upgrade and expects it to halve the top speed deficit to Mercedes. However, 0.6 seconds remains a significant gap at Monza. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur defended the team's technical decision while offering a multi-factor analysis of the issue. "It's not just an engine problem. There are multiple factors: aerodynamic drag, car weight, and how we deploy ERS energy," Vasseur explained. He emphasized that the team needs to optimize the entire system, not just the engine. Hamilton also pointed out a subtle technical nuance: Ferrari's ERS deployment schedule differs from Mercedes'. This is a software and calibration issue, not hardware, but mid-weekend changes are risky because they are constrained by cooling requirements and tire management. The situation is further complicated by setup changes in FP2 that appeared to backfire. Hamilton said he was unsure whether the top speed deficit was caused by car setup or inherent characteristics of the SF-24. An unbalanced car typically requires more wing angle or different ride height, both of which increase drag – a vicious cycle at Monza. From a tactical perspective, Ferrari's use of ADUO at Monza is strategically logical but carries opportunity costs. Monza is a power-sensitive circuit where the 15 horsepower gain is maximized. But if reliability issues emerge later, Ferrari will struggle with remaining power unit component usage for the season. The top speed gap also raises strategic questions for the main race. If Ferrari cannot match Mercedes on straights, they must compensate through strategy – possibly earlier pit stops to undercut, or defending track position rather than attempting overtakes. At Monza, DRS zones are long, and a top speed deficit makes defending against Mercedes particularly difficult. Vasseur also emphasized that Hamilton's public concern about top speed is a positive signal of the British driver's technical engagement, as he will officially join Ferrari from 2026. "Lewis has very deep technical analysis capabilities. His identification of these issues gives us clearer development direction," Vasseur said. However, there is a contrarian perspective to consider. Hamilton's public flagging of the issue before the race weekend could be a way of managing expectations. Monza is Ferrari's home race, with immense pressure from Italian media and the tifosi. By setting a low expectation threshold, Hamilton may be creating space for the team to address the issue without heavy criticism if results fall short. Additionally, the difference in ERS deployment schedules could indicate a cooling constraint. Ferrari's power unit has historically run hotter than Mercedes', which could force earlier ERS deployment tapering to manage temperatures. If so, this is a fundamental power unit characteristic that cannot be fixed mid-season. Looking ahead, the top speed gap at Monza could be a harbinger for 2026. If Ferrari cannot close the gap to Mercedes on power-sensitive circuits despite the ADUO upgrade, the 2026 car – which Hamilton will drive – will need significant aerodynamic efficiency improvements to compensate. This puts pressure on Ferrari's aero department and technical leadership. The 2026 regulation change, with 50% electrical power split and sustainable fuels, will be the true reset. Every power unit manufacturer will start from a clean sheet. Ferrari's current deficit to Mercedes will be erased, and that will be the real test of the Italian team's power unit development capability. Meanwhile, Hamilton has already demonstrated his value. His precise identification of the top speed issue and ERS deployment schedule is an early testament to the technical feedback capability that Ferrari valued when signing him. The question is whether these feedbacks translate into tangible on-track improvements. At Monza, where every thousandth of a second matters, Ferrari faces a difficult equation: how to balance top speed and car balance. If they prioritize speed, they may lose stability in high-speed corners. If they choose balance, they fall further behind on straights. This is a question without an easy answer. As final practice and qualifying approach, all eyes will be on Ferrari's top speed data. Can they close the gap to Mercedes, or will Monza continue to be a nightmare for the Italian team? The answer will come soon, but one thing is certain: Hamilton has set the stage for a dramatic story at the fastest track on the F1 calendar.