Hamilton says Ferrari still trailing Mercedes on straights despite upgrade

Lewis Hamilton has dampened expectations of a Ferrari revival at the team's home race, saying the Scuderia's new engine is "an improvement" but that they remain behind Mercedes on the straights at the Italian Grand Prix, the BBC reported on Friday.

The seven-time champion's comments came after Ferrari introduced an upgraded power unit for Monza, a circuit where straight-line speed is at a premium and where the team had hoped to close the gap to their rivals.

Hamilton had earlier described the upgrade as "a step forward but not the whole amount we need," according to the BBC, tempering optimism among the tifosi ahead of the race.

The upgrade was widely anticipated in international coverage of the race, with the Guardian reporting that Scuderia brought the improved engine to their home race and that Hamilton believed a win at Monza would be a "phenomenal" moment in his storied career.

Monza is the fastest circuit on the Formula One calendar, with long straights that place a premium on power unit performance. Any deficit in top speed is magnified here more than at any other venue, making Hamilton's assessment particularly significant.

Hamilton's comments suggest that while Ferrari have made progress, the gap to Mercedes — the team he left to join the Scuderia — remains a factor that could decide the outcome at Monza. The straight-line comparison is a pointed one, given Hamilton spent years driving for Mercedes and knows their power unit's strengths intimately.

The Italian Grand Prix carries emotional weight for Ferrari, the sport's most storied team, and for its legion of supporters who pack the Monza grandstands each year. A competitive showing at home would validate the team's development direction, but Hamilton's caution indicates the work is not yet complete.

The race weekend has been complicated further by extreme heat, with organisers declaring the event a heat-hazard race as high temperatures continue across Italy following the summer heatwave, the BBC reported. The conditions add another variable to a weekend already charged with expectation.

For Ferrari, the upgrade represents a step in a longer development arc rather than an immediate solution. Hamilton's public assessment, while measured, signals that the team's management will need further gains if they are to challenge consistently at the front.