Italian Grand Prix: Hamilton Embraces Grid Penalty as Extra Motivation at Monza
Lewis Hamilton accepts his five-place grid penalty at the Italian Grand Prix as added incentive in his debut Monza race for Ferrari, aiming to harness positive energy despite early challenges.
Italian Grand Prix Preview: Lewis Hamilton will start five places down following a penalty, but the seven-time champion views it as extra motivation for his Monza debut in red.
Hamilton received the grid drop for failing to slow sufficiently under yellow flags during the reconnaissance laps before the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. The penalty was confirmed only after the race, days after both Hamilton and team-mate Charles Leclerc retired after collisions.
"I did lift, but apparently it wasn't enough," Hamilton admitted. "Getting the penalty and license points was tough, especially heading into my first Monza race for Ferrari. But it gives me more to fight for."
Building Momentum
Earlier this week, Hamilton wowed around 7,000 fans at a Milan event and toured the Ferrari factory in Maranello, where supporters gathered outside. "I still have to pinch myself as a Ferrari driver," he said. "The passion here is incredible, and I've tried to harness that energy."
Though Hamilton won the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix, he has yet to reach the podium with Ferrari and sits sixth in the drivers' standings on 109 points-200 shy of leader Oscar Piastri.
Looking Ahead
"It's a dream to race for Ferrari," Hamilton said. "This year has been challenging, and both I and the team have adjusted significantly. We underestimated the cultural shift, but these six months have strengthened us. I feel we're at the brighter end of the tunnel."
Hamilton sees his grid penalty as an extra challenge to overcome and fuel for his Monza campaign with Ferrari.
This topic was reported by BBC Sport.
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