P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Hamilton hit with FIA penalty after Italian GP woe
Lewis Hamilton’s disappointing performance in the Italian Grand Prix qualifying session was made even worse by an additional penalty imposed by the FIA. He could only secure the fifth position during his first race weekend at Monza with Ferrari, trailing behind his teammate Charles Leclerc for the 12th time this season in grand prix qualifications. Despite his efforts, Hamilton must serve a five-place grid penalty, pushing him down to start from P10 in Sunday’s race at the Temple of Speed. The penalty stems from his failure to slow down under yellow flag conditions during the Dutch GP last weekend, with subsequent events leading to its enforcement in Italy. Although he joined Ferrari in January with hopes of securing his first grand prix podium, Hamilton finds himself in a difficult position – currently in sixth place in the drivers’ championship, 42 points behind Leclerc. As all eyes turn to Monza for Ferrari’s home race, Hamilton remains determined to overcome his podium drought and offer fans a moment of joy in what has been a challenging 2025. Despite starting from P10, Hamilton faces an uphill battle, while Leclerc’s fourth-place position raises hopes for Ferrari enthusiasts after his impressive victory in 2024. With Max Verstappen at pole position for Sunday’s race and his rivals Norris and Piastri following closely, George Russell now steps up into the top five due to Hamilton’s penalty.
