Hamilton says becoming first Black driver to win Italian GP for Ferrari has been on his mind ahead of Monza

Hamilton frames a Monza win in historic personal terms

Lewis Hamilton told reporters at Monza that the prospect of becoming the first Black driver to win the Italian Grand Prix for Ferrari has occupied his thoughts heading into the weekend. Speaking ahead of practice at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Hamilton reflected on what such a result would represent, saying: "And the thought of if I did do that, probably I would be the only black driver to ever do that for Ferrari in Italy probably in history, maybe, and so just like a lot of those thoughts have been through my mind." He added that "Winning in Monza for the first time with Ferrari is something I've witnessed Charles Leclerc win in 2019, when I was on the podium with him. But to do it while I'm here would be phenomenal."

A sixth Monza win would clear Schumacher's record

Hamilton said he had been reflecting on the broader statistics surrounding his Monza record, noting the milestone that a victory on Sunday would deliver. "I've really thought coming into this weekend, as I pondered, just thinking of the sheer magnitude of the concept that I'm coming to this Grand Prix, I didn't even know that I had I was equal with Michael [Schumacher] on [five Monza] wins, for example. But the thought that there's a first ahead of me, in the sense that potentially, if I was to win, you go into new territory." A win would give him a record sixth Italian Grand Prix triumph, moving him clear of the mark he currently shares with Michael Schumacher.

Ferrari introduces its second power unit upgrade of the season

Ferrari has chosen Monza to introduce its second permitted ADUO power unit upgrade of 2026, following the first engine performance upgrade introduced at the Austrian Grand Prix in June. Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are expected to use the revised specification, which represents the team's fourth and final penalty-free power unit of the season. Neither Ferrari driver will incur a grid penalty for taking the new unit.

Antonelli to start from the back after power unit allocation breach

Championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes will line up at the rear of the grid after his team exceeded his permitted power unit allocation, immediately removing one of the weekend's leading contenders from the front of the order. Hamilton arrives at Monza 59 points behind Antonelli in the 2026 drivers' standings, with 11 rounds remaining. Hamilton has already broken his Ferrari Grand Prix duck this season with a win in Barcelona in June.

The next verifiable milestone

First practice at Monza gets underway on Friday, with qualifying scheduled for Saturday at 16:00 CEST and the Italian Grand Prix set for Sunday, September 6 at 15:00 CEST.