There has been a visible increase in Hamilton’s self-confidence, and Brundle sees a “new way of thinking” in him – Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari chapter took another small but meaningful step forward at Monza. Despite receiving a five-place grid penalty, the seven-time world champion fought his way from tenth to sixth place in front of the Tifosi, showing more composure and control than he has displayed in recent months.

The penalty was the consequence of Hamilton’s speeding under double-waved yellows at the Dutch Grand Prix. This left him with a lot of ground to make up in Italy, starting well behind the sharp end of the field. However, as former racing driver and current Sky Sports pundit Martin Brundle observed, Hamilton carried himself differently this time, showing signs of a mental reset that could signal a change in his fortunes at Ferrari.

 

Brundle’s take on Hamilton’s change

Brundle was quick to note that Hamilton’s recovery drive showed glimpses of his former self. He described Hamilton as “much more comfortable in the car” and noted that the veteran appeared less frustrated by Ferrari’s shortcomings. Instead, Hamilton appeared focused on making the most of what was available, rather than lamenting the team’s lack of race-winning pace.

The Sky Sports analyst also highlighted Hamilton’s growing acceptance of Charles Leclerc’s speed. Since joining Ferrari this year, Hamilton has been outperformed consistently by his younger teammate. Leclerc comfortably sits inside the top five of the championship standings with multiple podiums, while Hamilton, despite winning the sprint in China, is yet to achieve a full race podium in red. Brundle suggested that Hamilton has reached a point of acceptance, which in turn is fuelling a more measured and constructive approach.

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The “foreign” Ferrari

Hamilton himself admitted after Monza that the SF-25 remains an alien beast. He described the need to adapt to a driving style that still feels unnatural — a stark contrast to his time at Mercedes, when he helped to develop the car. In Maranello red, Hamilton must adjust to a machine born from another driver’s rhythm, and this process is proving slower than many anticipated.

Yet progress is visible. Hamilton said that his confidence in the car had grown significantly during the Italian weekend. Although he is not yet in sync during the early sessions, his race pace suggests that he is finding solutions. He believes that, given more time, he will be able to approach qualifying with the same assurance he displayed in previous Grands Prix.

 

 

A tale of two Ferraris

The gulf between the Ferrari teammates is stark. Leclerc has led the team all season, consistently pulling in points and establishing himself as Ferrari’s figurehead. Meanwhile, Hamilton has found himself in the unusual position of playing catch-up in terms of both results and understanding the car’s quirks. For a driver who has built his career on immediate adaptability, this slower assimilation is notable.

However, the Monza race may prove to be a turning point. While sixth place does not make headlines, the way Hamilton drove was important. He appeared more assertive in wheel-to-wheel duels and more decisive in executing his strategy. Notably, he seemed much more relaxed in his post-race reflections.

Of course, the jury will recognise the irony. After months of Hamilton sounding like a man in an arranged marriage to a car that speaks a foreign language, at Monza he sounded almost content. Brundle, never one to miss a storyline, painted the picture of a Hamilton who has finally accepted that Leclerc might just be faster — at least in this machinery. This acceptance, we are told, is ‘nice to see’.

The wider truth is that Hamilton is not in a title fight and has had to adapt his personal metrics of success. A sprint win in China does not define a legacy, but it is something to cling to while Ferrari continues its search for a consistent challenger. Hamilton may frame sixth place at Monza as ‘building blocks’, which sounds a lot more constructive than ‘damage limitation’, the phrase he was using earlier in the year.

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Why Brundle matters here

Brundle’s comments resonate because he has a proven track record of understanding Hamilton. During Lewis’s dominant years, Brundle often highlighted the subtle shifts in his mentality. His latest observation that Hamilton has adjusted his mindset may not sound revolutionary, but for a driver grappling with an unfamiliar car and the shadow of a younger teammate, such recalibration is vital.

And let us not forget that Brundle excels at identifying narratives that keep fans entertained. The idea of Hamilton learning to make peace with Ferrari’s package is the sort of storyline that fills columns, even when Hamilton is not winning.

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Looking ahead

With Ferrari still lagging behind Red Bull and McLaren in terms of outright pace, Hamilton’s path to the podium remains challenging. However, Monza offered something more important than points: the sense that the relationship between Hamilton and the SF-25 is slowly shifting from adversarial to cooperative.

He may never feel entirely at home in this car in the same way that he did with the Mercedes machines that he co-developed over a number of years. However, if Monza’s “foreign driving style” can become something he understands, Ferrari might finally have two drivers pulling in the same direction.

Should that happen, perhaps the tifosi will one day sing Hamilton’s name with the same passion they reserve for Leclerc. Stranger things have happened in Formula One.

Hamilton’s sixth place at Monza was not about the result; it was about the trajectory. A driver who had appeared disheartened earlier this season appeared to rediscover his energy and self-belief. If Brundle is right, we are seeing a new phase in Hamilton’s career: one that is built less on dominance and more on resilience.

Whether that will satisfy the Ferrari faithful remains to be seen. For now, though, Hamilton appears lighter, more focused and, dare we say it, happier. And if nothing else, that alone might be worth celebrating.

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