Toto Wolff shares what Lewis Hamilton ‘needs’ to show he’s a ‘monstrously good’ driver at Ferrari

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Mercedes chief Toto Wolff thinks “no one” should “feel sorry” for Lewis Hamilton, as the Briton’s disappointing first year at Ferrari persists ahead of the Italian Grand Prix.

Monza awaits Hamilton for the first time as a Ferrari driver this week, as the European leg of the 2025 F1 season concludes. But his first Italian GP for the pride of Italy will start with one arm tied behind his back, as the 40-year-old must serve a five-place grid penalty on Sunday.

Hamilton has a five-place grid penalty for the Italian GP, as the stewards at Zandvoort opted against investigating the Briton before the Dutch Grand Prix over a yellow flag infringement. He did not slow for double-waved yellow flags at the final corner on his reconnaissance laps.

Zandvoort would also see the second-worst race of the seven-time champion’s first season with Ferrari to date. Hamilton crashed out of the Dutch GP on Lap 23 of 72 last Sunday while running in P7 after a downgraded upshift locked his rear wheels and kicked out the rear end.

Toto Wolff feels Lewis Hamilton only needs ‘one or two’ good races to find form at Ferrari

Hamilton’s first retirement as a Ferrari driver even followed his first failure to score a point in a Grand Prix that he finished in Hungary, where he only came home in 12th. Only Hamilton’s disqualification from P6 in the Chinese Grand Prix this March had denied him a point before.

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But Mercedes team principal Wolff does not think anyone should feel “sorry” for Hamilton, as it will only take the 105-time Grand Prix winner one or two “good” race weekends to put his plight with Ferrari in the past. Hamilton is still yet to secure a Grand Prix podium with Ferrari.

“It’s clear there were times when he was very frustrated,” Wolff said, via De Telegraaf. “But he had those same frustrations with us.

“He just needs one or two good race weekends, and then we’ll see a completely different Hamilton. No one needs to feel sorry for him, because he’s still a monstrously good driver.”

Lewis Hamilton is still yet to score a podium with Ferrari ahead of the Italian Grand Prix

Never before in his 19-year F1 career had Hamilton failed to earn a podium beyond the 10th round of a season prior to joining Ferrari this year. The Italian GP will be his 16th race for the Scuderia so far, with a best result of the P4 finishes he secured in Imola, Austria and Britain.

The past three rounds in Belgium (P7), Hungary (P12) and the Netherlands (DNF) even mark Hamilton’s worst Grand Prix results since finishing the Miami GP in P8 at the start of May in round six. He had finished each Grand Prix from round seven to round 12 between P4 to P6.

Now, a grid penalty awaits at Monza, as Hamilton heads to Ferrari’s home race. Ferrari feel confident about challenging McLaren at the Italian GP, though, as Monza’s level surface will let the Scuderia optimise the SF-25’s ride height without fearing excessive floor plank wear.