Lewis Hamilton is hopeful that the straight-line speed of his Ferrari will give him a chance to salvage a positive result in Formula 1‘s Italian Grand Prix.
The Briton qualified in fifth place, but will start 10th after receiving a five-place grid penalty before the weekend after last week’s Dutch Grand Prix.
Despite the penalty, Hamilton has conveyed more contentment and confidence in the SF-25 package going into this weekend and during it.
After topping FP1 on Friday, Hamilton has appeared happier with his situation than he often has across what has been a difficult first year with the Scuderia.
He enters the race with realism, saying after qualifying that he is aware overtaking is likely to be tough, but revealed the car’s speed on the straights is giving him cause for confidence.
“Well, obviously with the penalty and everyone being so close, it’s going to be tough to overtake ahead of me,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“But we’ve got good top line speed, so I’m really hoping that I can try to make up some ground. I need to do that.
“Probably a good start, good first lap, good strategy [is needed]. We’ll go away now and try and figure out what we can do to try to leapfrog the guys up ahead of me if possible.”
Hamilton reveals Ferrari ‘optimum load’ despite middle sector deficit
Hamilton said that the car is losing ground on its rivals during the second sector of the Monza circuit, which could be remedied by altering the wing set-up.
But naturally, adding more would cost Hamilton and team-mate Charles Leclerc – who will line up ahead in fourth – speed on the straights.
And given that Monza is one of the ultimate power circuits, Hamilton admitted a balance had to be struck to ensure straight-line speed maintained priority.
“Yeah, it’s ultimately downforce, really,” he explained.
“We’re quick on the straight, but then in the middle sector we’re losing thee or four tenths, I think it was, and then a couple tenths in the last sector.
“So we’re lacking the load, but we’re quick on the straight. But if we went up on wing, for some reason the efficiency is just off.
“We can’t catch that four-tenths in the middle sector, unless we go up a lot and then just lose it all down the straight. So this is the optimum load that we can have.”
Hamilton added: “Now we’ve made the changes, I’m hoping tomorrow we’ll still have that in the straight speed, so hopefully we can get close. Hopefully it’s not a DRS train.”
READ MORE – Charles Leclerc delivers ‘don’t have a chance’ verdict on Ferrari prospects for F1 Italian GP
Discussion about this post