Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari): “Michael Schumacher remains a role model to this day”

Lewis Hamilton’s first Monza Grand Prix weekend in red in 2025 was rather lacklustre: fifth in qualifying, sixth in the race. In 2026, a completely different Lewis Hamilton emerges – the Tifosi can dream.

For years, Lewis Hamilton – first as a McLaren driver and later as a Mercedes driver – had been hounded by the Tifosi at Monza: “Luigi, when are you finally coming to Ferrari?”

Luigi moved to Maranello for the 2025 season, but his debut at Monza was sobering: a lacklustre fifth in the final practice session, sixth in the Grand Prix. Hamilton struggled to get to grips with the race car and the team.

In 2026, we’re seeing a completely different Hamilton: the Briton won his first race in red at Barcelona (just as Michael Schumacher did thirty years before him), he was at one point second in the World Championship standings, and he’s taken the wind out of the sails of the lightning-fast Charles Leclerc.

Hamilton says: “Monza is always exciting. It’s the fastest race of the season. Last year we didn’t have a car with which we could fight for victory; this year, I believe we do. We’ll give it our all!”

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“My win in Barcelona was fantastic, but I’m always looking ahead. My aim is to achieve something no one has ever done before: to become World Champion with two top teams and then lead Ferrari back to the top.”

Commenting on Ferrari’s tribute to the great Michael Schumacher this weekend at Monza, Hamilton says: “I’m wearing seven stars on my kit because of him – that’s fitting, as I’ve got seven World Championship titles myself.”

“These are lovely gestures from Ferrari: a year ago we paid tribute to Niki Lauda, 60 years after his World Championship title here at Monza; now one for Michael, thirty years after his Monza victory with Ferrari. I used to watch Schumacher on the telly as a little lad, and back then it crossed my mind – what would it be like to race in a Ferrari like him?”

“Years later, I had the privilege of sharing the track with Michael Schumacher. That means a great deal to me. Schumacher remains a role model for countless racing drivers to this day. And now I’m a Ferrari driver myself and can feel the fans’ enthusiasm. It’s unique.”

On the improved Ferrari engine, Hamilton says: “Everything helps in getting closer to the front. We’re working tirelessly to improve. The atmosphere at the racing car factory is electric. It’s different from a year ago, when we weren’t quite sure what exactly we wanted to achieve. We know that now. I firmly believe that Ferrari has all the ingredients to become world champions again.»

“I see a Formula 1 team as a huge ship, and one of my roles is to help the team steer that ship onto a winning course.”

“I wasn’t able to implement many of my ideas in 2025 – firstly, because we’re operating under the cost cap; secondly, because we’ll have a different car in 2026; and thirdly, because I first had to convince the staff that my suggestions were at least worth considering, if not better.”