Hamilton targets historic Ferrari victory at Italian Grand Prix

Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton is targeting a historic victory at the Italian Grand Prix this weekend, as he seeks to become the first Black driver to win for Ferrari at the team’s home race in Monza.

Hamilton, who joined Ferrari at the start of the 2025 season, said he had been reflecting on the significance of potentially achieving the milestone ahead of Sunday’s race at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.

The 41-year-old Briton has already secured his maiden victory for Ferrari this season, winning the Spanish Grand Prix in June. However, he is yet to stand on the top step of the podium at Monza as a Ferrari driver.

Speaking ahead of the race, Hamilton acknowledged the cultural and historical importance of potentially winning for Ferrari in Italy.

“It would be a huge moment,” Hamilton said, reflecting on what the achievement could mean.

The Italian Grand Prix is one of Formula One’s most historic races and Ferrari’s home event. Monza has hosted the Italian Grand Prix for all but one of the races held since the championship began in 1950, making it a particularly significant venue for the Italian team and its supporters.

Hamilton enters the Monza weekend with renewed optimism after Ferrari introduced another engine upgrade for its SF-26.

The seven-time champion said he believed the team had made progress in understanding the car and was confident Ferrari had the potential to challenge for victory at its home race.

Ferrari struggled for consistency during Hamilton’s first season with the team, but the Briton’s victory in Barcelona earlier this year marked an important breakthrough.

He is now hoping to build on that result at a circuit where Ferrari’s performance carries additional significance because of the passionate support of the Italian fans, known as the Tifosi.

Hamilton also made a symbolic arrival at Monza on Thursday, driving a restored Ferrari F40 to the circuit. The car’s engine carries the number 44, matching Hamilton’s racing number.

A victory on Sunday would give Hamilton his first Italian Grand Prix win as a Ferrari driver and add another significant achievement to his career.

Hamilton has previously won the Italian Grand Prix five times, all during his Mercedes career. Another victory would put him ahead of Michael Schumacher’s record of five Monza wins and give him a sixth triumph at the circuit.

But Hamilton’s focus is not only on personal records.

Winning in Ferrari colours at Monza would carry particular weight because of the team’s history and the symbolic importance of a Black driver delivering a home victory for one of the world’s most famous motorsport brands.

The 2026 Italian Grand Prix is scheduled for Sunday, with Ferrari hoping Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc can deliver a strong result in front of their home crowd.

For Hamilton, victory would combine sporting achievement with a milestone that would further cement his place in Formula One history.