Hamilton worried about Mercedes top speed after Monza practice

Lewis Hamilton expressed concern over Mercedes' top speed after the first practice day at the Italian Grand Prix, losing up to 0.6 seconds on straights compared to teammate George Russell. Despite Ferrari bringing an ADUO engine upgrade (providing approximately 15 bhp) to Monza – considered the team's home track – Hamilton stated the gap remains "considerable to worry about." Speaking after FP2, Hamilton said: "I feel Mercedes has a top speed advantage here. We lost a lot of time on the straights – about six-tenths to George. That needs to be addressed." The 39-year-old, set to join Ferrari in 2026, currently drives for Mercedes and acknowledged the team's efforts. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur defended the ADUO upgrade, explaining the issue stems not only from the engine but also from aerodynamic drag, weight, and ERS deployment scheduling. "We know engine alone is not enough. We are working on multiple aspects to improve," Vasseur said. However, Hamilton admitted the upgrade helped. "The team did a great job with the upgrade. It brings us closer, but it's still not enough. Our deployment schedule differs from Mercedes, affecting top-end speed," he analyzed. In FP1, Charles Leclerc led a Ferrari 1-2, but in FP2 Hamilton was only fifth, 0.457s behind Russell. Setup changes in FP2 appeared to backfire, prompting Hamilton to consider reverting to the earlier setup for qualifying. Monza is a track where over 75% of the lap is full throttle, making top speed critical. If Ferrari cannot close the gap, their race strategy will be constrained – difficult to overtake Mercedes on straights and vulnerable to counter-attacks. Under pressure from thousands of tifosi, the Italian team needs a quick solution before Saturday's qualifying. Practice data is only indicative, but if Hamilton is correct, Ferrari faces a serious tactical weakness at their home race. Will the ADUO upgrade be enough for a podium? Qualifying will provide the answer.