Lewis Hamilton's expectations for F1 engine upgrade as Ferrari finds 'North Star'

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Ferrari has introduced its second and final permitted engine upgrade of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, aiming to close the gap to Mercedes and boost its chances of victory at its home race. The upgrade comes under the FIA’s Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) system, which allows teams a limited number of power unit improvements during the season. This move is part of Ferrari’s broader development push as it seeks to challenge Mercedes and Red Bull more consistently, especially on the high-speed Monza circuit where engine performance is crucial.

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari’s seven-time world champion driver, has expressed cautious optimism about the upgrade. Speaking to Crash.net, Hamilton acknowledged the step forward but emphasized that the upgrade does not fully close the performance deficit Ferrari has experienced so far. He pointed out that Ferrari had been losing around four-tenths of a second per lap on the straights compared to rivals, a significant handicap that has persisted through the season. Hamilton explained that while the new engine is an improvement and the team has a clearer development direction-what he described as a “North Star”-there is still work to be done to match Mercedes’ power unit performance. He noted that the car’s straight-line speed deficit remains “considerable,” with Friday’s practice data showing Ferrari losing up to six-tenths of a second to George Russell’s Mercedes on the straights alone, according to Crash.net’s Friday practice report.

Despite these concerns, Hamilton praised the factory team’s dedication and the progress made, highlighting that the upgrade has improved the car’s drivability in low-speed corners, which is a positive sign for the weekend. He also reflected on the personal significance of potentially winning at Monza for the first time as a Ferrari driver, noting the emotional weight of the event with his family and the passionate Tifosi in attendance, as reported by BBC Sport.

Mercedes, meanwhile, demonstrated strong pace in Friday’s practice sessions. George Russell topped the timesheets in the second practice, with Hamilton and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc close behind. Leclerc led the first practice session in a Ferrari one-two, with Hamilton second, showing that Ferrari’s chassis and aerodynamic package upgrades for Monza are also contributing positively. However, Mercedes’ Russell was quicker on the soft tyre in FP2, suggesting the Silver Arrows may still hold a slight edge in outright pace, especially over a single lap. Kimi Antonelli, the championship leader and Mercedes driver, confirmed that Ferrari’s new engine has brought them closer to Mercedes in terms of speed, telling Crash.net that “the speeds are the same” now and predicting a tight fight for pole position.

Antonelli’s comments contrast somewhat with Hamilton’s more cautious assessment, indicating that while Ferrari has made gains, Mercedes still believes the fight will be close but not necessarily in Ferrari’s favor just yet. Antonelli’s focus on long runs during practice, due to his grid penalty for exceeding engine component limits, also provided valuable data on race pace and engine deployment strategies, which could influence the weekend’s outcome.

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur echoed Hamilton’s view that while the power unit upgrade is a meaningful step, the team still faces a “decent gap” to Mercedes. He stressed that straight-line performance depends on multiple factors, including drag and car weight, not just engine power alone. This holistic view underlines the challenges Ferrari faces in optimizing the car’s balance between downforce and drag at a circuit like Monza, where low drag is essential for top speed.

Adding to the complexity, not all Ferrari-powered cars will benefit from the upgrade at Monza. Motorsport.com reported that Haas will field only one upgraded Ferrari engine, which will be allocated to Oliver Bearman, while Esteban Ocon will continue with the previous specification. This decision highlights the strategic considerations teams must make regarding resource allocation and reliability during a critical phase of the championship.

With the championship battle intensifying-Antonelli leads Hamilton and Russell by a significant margin-the Italian Grand Prix represents a pivotal moment. Ferrari’s home race, run in a special Michael Schumacher tribute livery, carries immense symbolic weight and offers an opportunity to showcase the progress made with the new engine and aero package. Hamilton’s desire for a first Monza win with Ferrari adds an emotional dimension to the weekend, as he contends with the pressure and expectations of the passionate Italian fans.

As qualifying approaches, the true measure of Ferrari’s upgrade will become clearer. While practice times suggest a more competitive package, the nuances of engine deployment, aerodynamic balance, and race strategy will ultimately determine whether Ferrari can convert its development gains into a home victory. Fans and teams alike will be watching closely to see if Ferrari’s “North Star” leads them to a breakthrough at one of Formula 1’s most historic venues.