Ferrari Fans’ Hopes Rise After Hamilton’s Positive Ferrari Assessment

Ferrari fans at Monza got their first glimpse of Lewis Hamilton in red, and the seven-time world champion made quite an impression on Friday’s practice sessions.

Hamilton topped the timesheet in the morning session, showing impressive pace at the legendary Italian circuit on his first weekend as a Ferrari driver.

The afternoon wasn’t quite as dominant but still promising. He finished fifth overall, just a tenth of a second behind his teammate who claimed second.

“It’s very special to be out on track in front of the tifosi,” Hamilton said. “The passion and energy here in Monza is truly unique.”

The high-speed nature of Monza seems to suit Ferrari’s SF-25 perfectly. This year’s car has already proven it can fly on tracks with long straights, giving the team plenty of optimism heading into the weekend.

Hamilton appeared noticeably more comfortable with the car throughout both sessions.

“The car felt pretty good earlier this afternoon and it was encouraging to finish FP1 on top,” he explained. “We made some changes between sessions that we’ll review carefully, as we’re not sure they took us in the right direction, but we have time to adjust ahead of tomorrow.”

Ferrari’s single-lap pace looks particularly strong, which bodes well for qualifying.

The team also gathered valuable data across different tire compounds, with Hamilton noting they’ll focus on improving race pace before Saturday’s crucial sessions.

“I’m confident the team can make good progress overnight and we’ll be working towards a good qualifying tomorrow,” Hamilton said.

With Ferrari’s home crowd watching eagerly and Hamilton settling into his new team environment, expectations are running high for a competitive showing at the Italian Grand Prix.