Lewis Hamilton’s recovery drive to sixth place at Monza boosted his confidence, but the seven-time champion admits Ferrari’s SF-25 isn’t fast enough for consistent podiums.

Starting 10th due to a five-place penalty carried over from Zandvoort, Hamilton executed an aggressive race to climb four spots and finish sixth, just behind George Russell in fifth.

Despite a tight squeeze early on, Hamilton managed solid positioning through early corners and kept pace near Russell during the middle stint, though an opportunity to undercut the Mercedes driver was missed.

Hamilton reflected positively on the performance, emphasizing that the race gave him a renewed sense of control and confidence after a challenging start to his first season with Ferrari.

Ferrari’s Performance Limits Podium Hopes

While the weekend showcased improvements, Hamilton acknowledged Ferrari’s SF-25 still lacks the pure pace of rivals Red Bull and McLaren, making podium finishes unlikely for now.

He praised teammate Charles Leclerc’s efforts but admitted the team currently slots into fourth or fifth in terms of overall competitiveness.

Hamilton noted that exceptional strategic execution might result in an occasional podium, but consistent top-three finishes remain out of reach due to the car’s limitations.

Learning and Looking Forward

Hamilton cited lessons learned from the race, particularly regarding race strategy and when to attempt overtakes. His positive mindset and the encouragement from loud Tifosi support at Monza signaled a turning point after earlier struggles adapting to Ferrari’s technical package. 

The race highlighted Hamilton’s enduring competitiveness and resilience as Ferrari aims to build on its incremental gains heading into the remainder of the 2025 season.