The Italian Grand Prix at Monza, known as the ‘Temple of Speed’, has always been a spectacle of history, passion and intense racing. This year’s weekend was no exception, with drama on and off the track. Lando Norris, continuing his impressive form, secured a remarkable pole position, leading a McLaren front row lockout alongside team-mate Oscar Piastri.
Huge disappointment for a “furious” Lewis Hamilton, who had set a strong pace throughout the weekend, was visibly frustrated after qualifying sixth. The result was particularly disappointing given his dominance in practice and Q2, where he set the fastest time. Many had expected Hamilton to challenge for pole at Monza, a track where his experience often shines.
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The young Briton’s blistering lap of 1:19.327 marked his second consecutive pole position and underlined McLaren’s resurgence as they close the gap on Red Bull in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships. Reigning world champion Max Verstappen struggled mightily, finishing seventh on the grid – his worst qualifying result of the season – leaving him and his team with plenty of work to do ahead of Sunday’s race.
In the midst of this high-stakes environment, Mercedes made a headline-grabbing announcement: 18-year-old Andrea ‘Kimi’ Antonelli would join their ranks as a full-time driver in 2025, taking over from Lewis Hamilton, who is set to move to Ferrari.
The confirmation of Antonelli’s promotion added an extra layer of intrigue to an already charged atmosphere at Monza, as fans and teams alike braced themselves for a race weekend full of unpredictable twists and turns.
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Hamilton disappointed despite strong pace
When the dust settled after qualifying, one of the most striking stories was the frustration of Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion, who had shown promising pace throughout the weekend, was visibly upset after qualifying a disappointing sixth.
It was a bitter pill to swallow given his impressive performances in the second and third sessions, where he had set the fastest times, and his dominance in Q2. Many had expected Hamilton to challenge for pole, especially at a track like Monza where his experience and skill have often made the difference.
Hamilton did not hide his feelings as he spoke to the media after the session, his frustration clear for all to see.
“Oh, I’m really pissed off,” Hamilton declared, his voice tinged with disappointment.
“Absolutely pissed off because I should have been on pole! I think it should have been at least the front row of the grid!”
Hamilton’s dissatisfaction wasn’t just with the final result, but with his own performance. The British driver was quick to admit that he made crucial mistakes during his lap which cost him dearly.
“I just didn’t get the job done in the end,” he admitted.
“I lost a tenth and a half in turns one and two, then another tenth in the last corner. So there’s no one to blame but myself.”
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A season of qualifying battles
This disappointing result is part of a worrying pattern that has dogged Hamilton throughout the 2024 season. Despite his legendary status and a car more than capable of competing at the top end of the grid, Hamilton has often struggled to deliver in qualifying.
The issue has been a recurring theme, with the Briton often starting races from positions that do not reflect his or the car’s true potential.
“Qualifying has been my weakness for a while now and I just can’t understand it,” Hamilton reflected, the frustration evident in his tone. Despite these ongoing challenges, Hamilton’s determination to improve remains unwavering.
“I’m going to keep trying,” he added, his resolve unshaken even in the face of repeated setbacks.
The frustration was compounded by the fact that, despite finishing ahead of both Red Bull drivers, Hamilton found himself behind both Ferraris and, crucially, teammate George Russell. Russell, who secured third place on the grid, demonstrated the potential that Hamilton felt he could have matched or exceeded.
To see his younger team-mate out-qualify him was undoubtedly a bitter pill for Hamilton to swallow, especially given the stakes at Monza.
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Self-criticism: “Absolutely ridiculous of me”
Hamilton’s reaction to his qualifying performance was uncharacteristically harsh, displaying a level of self-reproach that underlined just how much the result had affected him. No doubt keen to put in a good performance in front of the Italian fans of whom he will be racing for next year when he moves to Ferrari.
“I’m probably going to be kicking myself for the next few hours,” he admitted, clearly unhappy with his performance.
“I just didn’t get the best out of it. Totally ridiculous of me, totally unacceptable. It’s totally my fault, nobody else’s”.
Despite his harsh self-assessment, Hamilton was quick to shift some of the focus to the team’s efforts, acknowledging the hard work that had gone into preparing the car.
“We’ve got a good car and the team did a fantastic job this weekend,” he said, giving credit where credit was due. “The car feels so much better than it did yesterday and in the last race. And the team deserve better.”
Hamilton also took a moment to reflect on the announcement of Andrea ‘Kimi’ Antonelli as his successor at Mercedes, a decision eagerly awaited by the F1 community. Despite the pressure that comes with such a significant change, Hamilton expressed hope that the team’s hard work will be rewarded in the future as he prepares to leave for Ferrari.
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Wolff’s perspective: Slipstream problems and tight margins
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, always a calming presence in the face of adversity, offered a more measured assessment of Hamilton’s qualifying performance. In an interview with Sky Sports, Wolff defended his driver against harsh self-criticism and emphasised the narrow margins that often define success and failure in Formula One.
“We’re talking about such a small difference,” explained Wolff. “I mean, it’s half a tenth or so that makes the difference between three or four positions, so you can’t really say we messed up.”
Wolff also suggested that Hamilton may have been too close to the car in front on his final flying lap, a factor that may have contributed to the disappointing result.
“I think Lewis was maybe a bit too close,” said Wolff, highlighting the challenges posed by the slipstream effect on high-speed circuits like Monza.
“And now we think that the slipstream does more harm than good. Because you are driving around in such turbulence with these cars. And that might have been it.”
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The challenge ahead: Recovering from sixth on the grid
As Hamilton turns his attention to Sunday’s race, the reality of starting from sixth on the grid is a tough pill to swallow. For a driver of his calibre, who had shown such promise earlier in the weekend, the result feels like a missed opportunity.
“The chance I had to fight for the win is gone,” admitted Hamilton, his disappointment still fresh.
“I think tomorrow I just have to try and make up as much ground as possible and see if I can get past the Ferraris and maybe challenge for the podium.”
The task ahead is daunting, however. Monza is a circuit where track position is crucial and overtaking can be a challenge, especially against the well-matched competition from Ferrari and McLaren. The Tifosi, eager for a Ferrari victory on home soil, will be in full voice, making Hamilton’s task even more difficult as he battles not only the cars around him but also the passionate Italian crowd.
Hamilton’s focus will now be on damage limitation, trying to salvage what could have been an outstanding weekend. With the championship still on the line and every point crucial, Hamilton will need to draw on all his experience and resilience to navigate the race ahead.
The Monza crowd, known for their fervent support of Ferrari, may find it difficult to root for Hamilton as he prepares to join their beloved team next year. But as always in F1, the race is unpredictable and Hamilton will be hoping that Sunday brings the opportunity to turn his fortunes around against a backdrop of rising stars, new beginnings and the relentless pursuit of victory.
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The Judge, a nom de plume of an experienced F1 journalist and site founder with long-standing sources across the paddock. With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
