Lewis Hamilton was in good spirits at Thursday‘s media commitments in Monaco as the seven-time World Champion targets a follow-up after last week’s encouraging return to form at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.
Ferrari endured a nightmare double Q2 exit at their first home Grand Prix of the season in Imola, but Hamilton and team–mate Charles Leclerc fought bravely back to P4 and P6 respectively on Sunday – the British driver’s best non-Sprint result of the season so far.
While this weekend’s race in the Principality represents a “much different” challenge, Hamilton hopes the lessons learned last time out will stand him and the Scuderia in good stead as the latest F1 triple header progresses.
“We’ve taken on the positives from it,” he commented. “There’s still a lot to digest – it’s only been a few days, obviously.
“I was on the simulator on Monday, correlating and speaking with the engineers throughout the week. Fingers crossed, we‘ve got a good weekend.
“It‘s a very different circuit… Ferrari have performed quite well here in the past but as you would know, Qualifying is all, and we‘ve struggled thus far this season, so we‘ll see.“.
“I do remember being here racing for McLaren in a period when the car looked the best, the best livery, it was highly fashionable, and something that I, seriously, enjoyed,” he continued to add, referring to his first 2007 season.
But to come here in a Ferrari is insane. Every weekend, once more is my maiden voyage with this team in all those places that we go, but running a Ferrari here around the circuit…
“I‘ve always wondered what it must be like to be down in the garage among the red there, and I get to do that tomorrow. I don‘t think I‘ll sleep tonight, I‘m buzzing so much and so excited.”
Hamilton starts the race in sixth position in the Drivers‘ Championship, where he is eight points behind Leclerc, with Ferrari fourth in the Teams‘ battle, 165 points adrift of leading McLaren
Hamilton ‘buzzing’ for first Monaco weekend with Ferrari after taking positives from Imola charge
