Martin Brundle highlights Lewis Hamilton’s eye-opening moment regarding Charles Leclerc at Maranello. Martin Brundle thinks Lewis Hamilton is coming to terms with how fast Charles Leclerc is.

Martin Brundle: Lewis Hamilton realises Charles Leclerc’s speed after Italian Grand Prix at Monza

Lewis Hamilton finally experienced the fervent support that Ferrari drivers are showered with when racing in front of the Tifosi at Monza during the 2025 Italian Grand Prix. The event is regarded as the pinnacle of the season for Ferrari, with tens of thousands of passionate fans hoping to see a Ferrari driver atop the podium. Charles Leclerc has already won at Monza twice, including a memorable victory last season where he executed a perfect one-stop strategy to beat McLaren and delight the home crowd.

This year, both Leclerc and Hamilton faced challenges from the outset. Hamilton arrived at Monza with a five-place grid penalty, a lingering consequence of a speeding infringement at Zandvoort. Surprisingly, he did not provide Leclerc a tow in qualifying, leaving the drivers to line up fourth and tenth, respectively. Leclerc, often compared to Ferrari legend Gilles Villeneuve, showed early promise by briefly overtaking Oscar Piastri in the initial laps, hinting at the possibility of a podium finish. Ultimately, however, he finished fourth, just missing out on the top three, while Hamilton recovered four positions to finish sixth, earning praise from Nico Rosberg for his determined drive through the pack.

Brundle highlights Hamilton’s mindset shift and recognition of Leclerc’s pace

Martin Brundle, commentating for Sky Sports, observed Hamilton closely throughout the Italian Grand Prix and noted a significant change in his approach. Brundle suggested that Hamilton has begun to fully comprehend just how quick his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc is, having worked with him more closely this season. According to Brundle, Hamilton demonstrated a renewed sense of comfort in the car and a more positive mindset, focusing on maximizing performance rather than expressing frustration over not having a race-winning machine.

Martin Brundle explained that despite starting tenth due to the grid penalty, Hamilton’s first stint was impressive, reminiscent of the driving skill that made him a seven-time Formula 1 world champion. The commentary highlighted that Hamilton now seems to accept Leclerc’s superior pace, a realization that may explain why his former teammate Sebastian Vettel struggled to match Leclerc in earlier seasons. Observers noted that Hamilton appeared more relaxed and content, enjoying the racing experience and the passionate support from the Tifosi.

Ferrari’s performance and missed target at Monza

Despite individual successes, Ferrari’s overall target for the weekend went unmet. Team principal Fred Vasseur acknowledged that the aim had been to get the Monegasque on the podium, which ultimately proved unattainable. While the Monegasque driver delivered a strong performance, early battles and aggressive tyre use limited his pace later in the race. Hamilton also ran a strategic stint aimed at overcoming George Russell, but the low tyre degradation hindered the plan.

Fred Vasseur praised both drivers’ efforts, emphasizing that the team was close to McLaren’s pace, trailing by just four seconds, while Max Verstappen dominated at the front. He also highlighted the significance of the Tifosi’s support, describing it as exceptional throughout the week. Internally, Ferrari’s engineers were satisfied with how both drivers managed the cars under challenging conditions, recognizing the effort required to compete at Monza.

Leclerc maintains championship advantage over Hamilton

Following Monza, Charles Leclerc holds a 46-point advantage over Hamilton in the drivers’ championship, having secured all five of Ferrari’s podium finishes this season. While Lewis Hamilton joined Ferrari fully aware of his teammate’s pace, Martin Brundle’s analysis suggests that the Italian Grand Prix provided him with a clearer understanding of why Leclerc has consistently been a step ahead. The weekend reinforced the notion that Hamilton is adapting to Ferrari while respecting the speed and skill of his younger teammate, a dynamic that will shape the remainder of the 2025 season and beyond.