Double blow for Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton will start five places down on the grid at the upcoming Italian Grand Prix in Monza after a risky approach to the pit lane during his warm-up laps at Zandvoort.

Drivers typically complete several reconnaissance laps before lining up on the grid to assess track conditions and car behavior. At Zandvoort, where the pit lane entrance sits unusually close to the grid, race officials waved double yellow flags to ensure safety as team personnel began assembling.

Hamilton approach deemed unsafe

Despite the warning, Hamilton entered the pit lane at a speed just 12 mph (20 km/h) slower than in practice—far too fast under double yellow conditions. Compared to other drivers who approached with more caution, Hamilton’s entry was deemed unsafe. While stewards acknowledged he made some effort to slow down, they ruled it insufficient and issued a five-place grid penalty—half the standard ten-place punishment.

Weekend to forget for Ferrari

This setback comes on the heels of Hamilton’s solo crash at Turn 3 during the Dutch Grand Prix. Running in seventh, he lost control on the banked corner as light rain began to fall. “I’m not really sure what happened,” Hamilton said afterward. “I thought everything was going well. The pace compared to Charles [Leclerc] ahead was solid. It’s not normal for me to end a race like that, so I don’t have much to say”.

Ferrari’s weekend went from bad to worse when rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli collided with Charles Leclerc, ending the Monegasque driver’s race while he was running in the points. Antonelli attempted an aggressive move on the inside of Turn 3, clipped Leclerc’s rear wheel, and sent him into the wall. “It was overly optimistic from Kimi,” Leclerc said. “You have to be aggressive, and mistakes happen, but this one really hurt the team. We had good pace, and I was pushing hard to recover positions after the first safety car. It’s been a tough Grand Prix, but I hope we can turn things around at Monza”.

Now, Ferrari heads to its home race in Monza under pressure, with both drivers coming off a double DNF in the Netherlands. The passionate Tifosi will be watching closely as the team looks to rebound on familiar turf.

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