Hamilton Chases Monza History With Ferrari's Upgraded Engine

Lewis Hamilton arrived at the Monza paddock for the 2026 Italian Grand Prix in a Ferrari F40 — the same supercar he bought earlier this year, its engine stamped with his racing number, 44. It was a callback to his first photocall at Ferrari's Maranello factory in January 2025, when the seven-time champion's move to the Scuderia still felt surreal. Now, heading into Round 13 of the season, the theatre has a sharper edge: Hamilton believes a Ferrari win on Sunday would be, in his words, a "phenomenal moment" in his career The Guardian.

The timing is fortuitous and the stakes are mathematical. Hamilton trails championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 59 points, with Mercedes teammate George Russell also ahead of him in the standings The Guardian. Antonelli, the 19-year-old Italian who has electrified the season, will start Sunday's race from the back of the grid after taking engine penalties — a cruel twist for his home crowd, and a door swung open for everyone behind him Reuters.

Ferrari have brought their second engine upgrade of 2026 to Monza, fitted to both Hamilton's and Charles Leclerc's cars Sky Sports. The team hopes it narrows the gap to Mercedes, who have set the pace all year. Hamilton said he "strongly believes" in Ferrari's chances and has shared his excitement over the new power unit Formula1.com. Lando Norris, no ally but a straight shooter, said earlier this season that Ferrari would be the dominant force in Formula 1 if they had a better engine — a remark made after Hamilton's win in Barcelona that now carries extra weight Formula1.com.

Then there is the history. Hamilton is level with Michael Schumacher on five wins at Monza. A sixth would make him the outright most successful driver at this circuit, surpassing a record Schumacher built entirely in red. To do it driving for Ferrari — wearing a special livery the team created to mark 30 years since Schumacher joined the Scuderia — would layer the moment with a resonance that needs no embellishment The Guardian.

Hamilton also noted that a victory would make him the only black driver to have ever won for Ferrari in Italy, and possibly in the sport's history The Guardian.

What makes this stand out is the convergence: a wounded championship leader sent to the back, a fresh engine at a track that rewards outright power, a record on the line, and a 41-year-old driver who has spent two decades chasing history now chasing it in the most famous red car of all. Monza's long straights — the "Temple of Speed" — reward horsepower above all else. If Ferrari's upgrade delivers what Hamilton believes it can, Sunday could rewrite both the record books and the championship arithmetic in a single afternoon.