Only time will tell if last weekend’s Italian Grand Prix was a turning point for Lewis Hamilton, but Sky F1’s Martin Brundle noted a clear improvement in the Ferrari driver’s demeanor and outlook at Monza, and suggested a few reasons behind the change.
Hamilton’s first season in red has been riddled with struggles, from difficult adaptation to the SF-25 to the emotional low point of branding himself “useless” in Hungary. But at Monza, the Tifosi witnessed a more composed and determined Hamilton.
Despite carrying a five-place grid penalty from Zandvoort, the Briton climbed from tenth to finish sixth, impressing Brundle in the process.
“Lewis Hamilton was carrying a five-place grid drop for speeding indiscretions going to the grid in Zandvoort, which frankly were a fair cop,” Brundle wrote in his Sky Sports F1 column earlier this week.
“He would start 10th, but once again coming through the pack as he did at Silverstone and other races, we would witness Lewis driving as we remember from years previous.”
A Shift in Mindset
Brundle, who started 158 Grands Prix during his own career, said the Monza weekend showcased a change in Hamilton’s mentality after months of frustration.
But what’s behind the Scuderia star’s brighter demeanor? Brundle points to a psychological pivot. After months of grappling with a car that hasn’t matched McLaren’s pace-setting MCL39, Hamilton appears to have embraced a pragmatic approach.
But equally significant, according to Brundle, is the fact that Hamilton has come to grips with the formidable talent of his teammate, Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque, who claimed pole in Hungary and has consistently outshone Hamilton in 2025, is a benchmark few can match.
“All round he looked more comfortable in the car and seems to have had a mindset adjustment of making the best of what he has instead of being frustrated that he’s not got a race-winning car underneath him,” Brundle explained.
“He’s probably also come to terms with just how fast Charles Leclerc is. It was nice to observe Lewis looking happier.”
Hamilton: Driving Ferrari still feels “alien”
For Hamilton, the progress at Monza is a sign of learning to adapt to a car that requires a style very different from what he mastered at Mercedes. While the comfort is far from complete, he admitted he is slowly unlocking its potential.
“What is clear for me, and I know I’ve been driving this car all year long, but in my previous years, I was part of a car which was evolving over time,” he said last weekend.
©Ferrari
“I was comfortable with it and knew the driving style inside out, and this year I am arriving at the track and having to apply this new driving style, which is still alien and doesn’t feel natural to a car, which is how it has to work.
“Through the race, I am getting better and better and faster and faster and unlocking that and gaining confidence that is not there early on in the weekend.”
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It’s a process, but Hamilton’s ability to adapt lap by lap suggests he’s inching toward harmony with Ferrari’s challenging machine.
Brundle’s observations and Hamilton’s own reflections paint a picture of a champion rediscovering his rhythm, buoyed by both the crowd and a clearer understanding of his teammate’s pace.
As Ferrari prepares for the radical 2026 regulations, Hamilton’s upbeat Monza weekend signals that he’s ready to fight – not just for wins, but to cement his legacy with the Prancing Horse.
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