Lewis Hamilton has suggested it is time his Ferrari team put their full weight behind his efforts to challenge for the Formula One world championship if he is to have a shot at the title, and warned his chances were diminishing with every race. Hamilton trails Kimi Antonelli, the championship leader, by 59 points with 11 races to come. Having qualified in fifth for the Italian Grand Prix, one place behind his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, who is 87 points off the lead, Hamilton was asked if it was time Ferrari gave him priority as their best chance for the title.
But also at the track we need to come correct and act. We need to make sure we get the results we need.” Hamilton had very nearly been eliminated during Q2 in qualifying, struggling for pace and questioning Ferrari’s decision-making in trying to give both drivers a chance of a tow at a high-speed circuit where it is vital for a quick lap. I’m not quite sure, I need to look into that.
But because everyone was waiting and Charles didn’t want to go out first, we had to wait, wait, wait, and then we only got one push. It made it pretty challenging for us.” Alpine’s Pierre Gasly took a remarkable pole position for the race, with Mercedes’ George Russell, who is equal with Hamilton on points – 59 behind Antonelli – in second place. With the Mercedes looking formidable in race pace and Antonelli starting from 20th after an engine-change grid penalty, Russell is in a strong position to make points back, and Hamilton emphasised this was a potentially crucial moment for Ferrari.
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