Lewis Hamilton criticizes Ferrari strategy after Monza Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton expressed significant frustration with Ferrari following the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, where he finished in sixth place. The driver criticized the team for failing to prioritize him in the championship battle, stating that the opportunity to implement team orders or strategic adjustments is now “many, many weeks too late.”

The race was marked by on-track tension between Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc. During the opening lap, an incident at the first chicane saw Leclerc push Hamilton wide, causing the Briton to drop to tenth place. Leclerc subsequently crashed into the barriers at the Parabolica, resulting in a red flag.

Hamilton also criticized Ferrari’s tactical decisions, specifically their failure to call him into the pits for a tire change during a Virtual Safety Car period. This left him struggling on worn hard tires toward the end of the race. Hamilton noted that his championship deficit to leader Kimi Antonelli has grown to 76 points, leading him to describe his title chances as “out of reach.”

Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur defended the team's strategy, explaining that the decision not to pit Hamilton during the VSC was based on race positioning and timing relative to Max Verstappen.