Lewis Hamilton worried about Mercedes top speed after 2026 Italian GP practice

Monza, Italy – A turbulent Friday at the high-speed Monza circuit left big question marks for Ferrari and especially Lewis Hamilton. The British driver, who will join the Italian team in 2026, publicly expressed concern about Mercedes' top speed after the first two practice sessions of the Italian Grand Prix. While Charles Leclerc led FP1 with a 1-2 for Ferrari, Hamilton could only manage fifth in FP2, 0.457 seconds behind future teammate George Russell. More worryingly, the gap on the straights – where Monza decides most of the outcome – seemed like a chasm. “Their straight-line speed is considerable to worry about,” Hamilton told reporters in the paddock. “I think they have a big advantage there. We’re losing about 0.6 seconds on the straights alone compared to Russell. That’s a lot.” Hamilton’s comment is not just an ordinary observation; it reflects a technical reality Ferrari is facing at their home race. The team arrived at Monza with a new engine upgrade, called ADUO (Aerodynamic Development Unit Override), a mechanism allowing power unit manufacturers to make limited performance upgrades during the engine development freeze. The upgrade is believed to provide around 15 horsepower, enough to halve the top speed gap to Mercedes. However, Hamilton is not fully reassured. “The new engine is better, I approved it,” Hamilton explained. “But the problem isn’t just power. There’s a difference in the deployment schedule – how we release electrical energy from the battery. And probably also aerodynamic drag and weight. It’s a compound issue.” This remark shows Hamilton is already deeply involved in Ferrari’s technical issues, even before officially joining. He is not just a driver; he is acting as an unofficial chief engineer, pointing out weaknesses the Italian team needs to address. Fred Vasseur, Ferrari team principal, quickly defended the upgrade. “We know the gap exists,” Vasseur said. “But it’s not just an engine problem. Aerodynamic drag, car weight, and energy deployment all contribute. The ADUO upgrade is a step forward, but Monza is a special track. Mercedes has always been strong here.” Vasseur is playing a subtle media game: acknowledging the problem but not blaming the engine, defending the team’s technical decision while managing expectations for Sunday’s race. Data from practice sessions paints a complex picture. In FP1, Leclerc led with a 1:21.994, 0.226 seconds ahead of teammate Carlos Sainz. Hamilton was only fourth, 0.3 seconds back. In FP2, Russell took the top spot with a 1:21.825, while Hamilton dropped to fifth, 0.457 seconds behind. Notably, Hamilton tried some setup changes in FP2, but they seemed to backfire. “We tried a few things, but it didn’t work,” Hamilton admitted. “The balance wasn’t good, and that affects straight-line speed. We might revert to the old setup.” The truth is, Ferrari faces a difficult puzzle at Monza. About 75% of the lap is full throttle, and if they lose 0.6 seconds on the straights, overtaking Mercedes on track is nearly impossible. Their strategy must rely on early pit stops to undercut, or hope for a perfect qualifying lap to defend position. But with Mercedes’ top speed advantage, defending also becomes difficult. Vasseur is right to say the problem is not just the engine. The SF-24 has been criticized for higher aerodynamic drag compared to the Mercedes W15 throughout the season. On high-downforce tracks like Monaco or Hungary, Ferrari is very strong. But on speed tracks like Monza, Spa, or Las Vegas, they often lose out. The ADUO upgrade provides 15 horsepower, estimated to halve the gap. But if the original gap was 0.6 seconds, after the upgrade it remains 0.3 seconds – a number large enough to decide positions on the grid. Moreover, deploying ADUO consumes development budget under the cost cap. Ferrari chose to use it at Monza, where the benefit is maximized, but this means fewer resources for late-season upgrades or the 2026 car. Another interesting technical aspect is Hamilton’s remark about the deployment schedule. In F1 hybrid power units, the ERS (Energy Recovery System) recovers energy from braking and exhaust, stores it in a battery, and releases it according to a programmed schedule. Differences in this schedule between Ferrari and Mercedes may stem from cooling constraints. Ferrari’s PU historically runs hotter, forcing them to reduce ERS deployment at the end of straights to avoid overheating. If true, this is a fundamental PU limitation that cannot be fixed mid-season. Hamilton, with years of experience with the Mercedes PU – widely regarded as the benchmark for performance and reliability – quickly spotted this weakness. Hamilton’s impending arrival at Ferrari in 2026 is beginning to shape the narrative. His public comments about top speed are not just a technical observation; they are a signal to the team about development priorities. By pointing out the problem in detail, Hamilton is putting pressure on Ferrari’s technical department to find solutions for the 2026 car. At the same time, he is managing expectations for Sunday: if Ferrari loses at Monza, the story will be “Hamilton warned us,” not “Ferrari failed in front of the tifosi.” Strategically, Ferrari will likely focus on qualifying. A good starting position can mask the top speed weakness, as overtaking is harder when you are ahead. But if Mercedes takes pole, Ferrari will struggle to keep up. With long DRS zones at Monza, Mercedes can easily pass Ferrari on the straights if they have a 0.3-0.6 second speed advantage. Risks also exist. The ADUO upgrade, though permitted, carries reliability risks. If the engine has issues during the race, Ferrari could face grid penalties in subsequent rounds. Vasseur appears confident, but in F1, nothing is certain. Ultimately, the 2026 Italian Grand Prix is not just another race. It is Ferrari’s home race, where the tifosi create the most passionate atmosphere of the year. A poor result would not only affect the team’s constructors’ standings but also damage brand and team morale. Hamilton, though not yet officially a Ferrari driver, is already feeling that pressure. His words on Friday may be an early warning for a turbulent weekend. In summary, Ferrari faces a major technical challenge at Monza. The ADUO upgrade is a step in the right direction, but not enough to close the gap to Mercedes. Hamilton, as the future driver, has publicly identified the problem, and now it is up to the team to find solutions. Sunday’s race will be the real test for both Ferrari and the upcoming Hamilton story.