Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur paid tribute to the passionate Tifosi at Monza, who flocked to the track in huge numbers to support the Scuderia, saying they energised seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton across the Italian Grand Prix weekend..
While the Scuderia could not deliver a podium for their fans at their home race, Charles Leclerc managed to come home fourth and Hamilton sixth – the latter improving from P10 on the grid after taking a five-place penalty.
For Hamilton, it was his first taste of the Italian Grand Prix as a Ferrari driver, something he said he had been looking forward to all season long. The fans embraced the seven-time World Champion all weekend long – and even before the drivers made it to Monza, with Ferrari running some special events for the Tifosi in Milan.
Hamilton’s mood seemed buoyed when he spoke to the media across the weekend – and his boss was clear as to the cause.
“I think the energy that he received from the Tifosi Wednesday, Thursday in [Milan] was something very special for him,” said Vassuer after the Italian Grand Prix. “I don’t know if it was expected from him or I don’t know what he was expecting from this, but it was something mega and I think this gave him an extra boost all over the weekend.
“Even tonight when he went to the fans to say hello and the Tifosi was something mega. I don’t know if you underestimate this or not, that we didn’t discuss too much about this, but I think, and even for me, each time that I’m going there I’m surprised.
“We didn’t do the race of our life, we were expecting to be at least on the podium, we are not, but they are still there, they are still enthusiastic, still pushing and it’s why I’m a bit disappointed that we were not able to give them a podium this weekend.
“But I’m really convinced that it’s part of the energy into the team and the positive energy around Lewis this weekend.”
Ferrari looked on the pace from the start at Monza, with Hamilton topping FP1 from his team mate. Leclerc was second in all three practice sessions, and in the mix for the front row in Qualifying until the final runs.
But Ferrari did not quite have the pace to challenge for the podium during the race, although Leclerc gave the fans plenty to cheer thanks to some wheel-to-wheel racing with Oscar Piastri.
The crowd also loved watching Hamilton scythe his way back through the pack from P10 on the grid, ultimately finishing sixth behind former team mate George Russell.
“We had to serve the penalty, and we knew from the beginning of the weekend that with plus five it’s not an easy one, but [Hamilton] came back behind Russell and the pace was there from the first lap of FP1 to the last lap of the race,” Vasseur explained.
“Honestly, I think this started in Zandvoort last week. It’s difficult to say because the outcome of the weekend was not positive for him, but at the end of the day, the pace was better from the beginning, compared to Charles, the mood was better.
“During the race, he was fighting with Russell until Lap 30, that means that he was back in a better position.”
Sixth was Hamilton’s best Grand Prix finish since his fourth at Silverstone, and ended a run of two races outside the points. He has yet to finish on the Grand Prix rostrum this year, but Vasseur is convinced that is going to change in the last eight races.
“[Hamilton] was able to fight with Russell in Zandvoort, to come back from P10 to the gearbox of Russell today,” he added. “Russell was a couple of times on the podium, [so] yes we can expect him to be on the podium.”
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