F1 Pre Race Drivers Press Conference | Italian Grand Prix 2026 | PART 1

A very warm welcome, everybody, to the Drivers' Press Conference ahead of the FIA Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix. Usual two groups coming your way today. First up, left to right, we have Lewis Hamilton, Oli Behrmann and Pierre Gasly. Very warm welcome to you guys. Lewis, let's start with you. Home race for Ferrari. Just tell us how special it feels to be a Ferrari driver at Monza. Good afternoon, everyone. Yeah, I mean, it's the best feeling to be a Ferrari driver. It's such an honour and a privilege to arrive in Italy at this iconic race with the most iconic and best team in the world. It's really phenomenal to experience it for the second year in a row. And it still feels new. So it's not something you can get used to. One thing that is new this weekend is the Schumacher-inspired livery. Can we get your thoughts on that and what Michael meant to you? I mean, I haven't really, I haven't actually seen the livery, but I'm wearing a shirt with seven stars, which is quite fitting because I have seven stars too. So it feels all right. So it feels like it's also mine. But I mean, it's kind of crazy. Last year, we celebrated Nicky, who was a dear friend. And Michael, for me, I grew up, I remember the happiest Sunday mornings when you heard the music, the old, better music that they used to use for the start of Formula 1. Was it the chain? Yeah, so much better. And you could hear it downstairs starting and you knew, OK, you get all excited, you run downstairs. And I just always remember seeing Michael in the red car. And I remember playing computer games and always being Michael in that Ferrari and always just trying to imagine what it would feel like to be in his shoes. And I have the privilege of having that experience now. But I mean, he was such a leader. Obviously, he did such an amazing job throughout his career. And again, I had the privilege of racing in a moment where he was still racing and being on track with him, which meant a lot. In terms of performance, the power unit is getting an upgrade here. Will it be enough to fight for victory? Every little helps, every little helps. And I think, you know, up until this point of the year, we've been losing even in the last race on such a short circuit. We were losing four tenths a lap through the race. So that's that's a huge deficit. And that's we've carried that through the year to this point. And what I can say is I'm just really I really, really am proud of when I go back to the factory and I see how hard everyone is working, that they're really just heads down. Everyone's so enthusiastic. I see a different focus this year to last year. It's kind of last year. I felt like there wasn't really a North Star. We were kind of, I think, doing the best we could, but not really knowing where exactly we were trying to aim for. And now we have a North Star we know we need to work towards. And I think they've done a tremendous job to to really pull together and deliver. And this is a step forward. It's not the whole gap that we we need, but we knew that would be the case. And so but to see bits coming each weekend, adding to the car, just it's exciting to see that we are pushing. And, you know, I strongly, strongly still believe that we've got what it takes to win. Louis, thank you for that. Best of luck this weekend. I'm sure there'll be more questions for you later. Oli, if we could come to you now, while we're we're talking upgrades, Haas has brought a comprehensive list of upgrades here to Monza. Just how hopeful are you that they're going to reward you with a chunk of lap time? Yeah. Hello, everybody. We are very much hoping that that we have a bit more performance this weekend. It's been a good few races now that we've kind of been left behind by our competition. You know, it's been a while that we've bought a big upgrade to the car. And so we have a lot of hopes set on this one. Yeah, it seems like a big one. And all of the team are are quite confident. Of course, in Monza, it's maybe not the best place to bring upgrades necessarily because you don't see the full effect of of the benefit, of course, with with this track, which is which is a much more drug sensitive one. And then maybe last week was. But, you know, nonetheless, it's been a long time coming. The team have worked incredibly hard. And, you know, we have a lot of challenges that we face being a small team. One of them is the turnaround times of our upgrades. And you've seen that, you know, the last big one that we bought was in was in Canada, which is a long way back. So, yeah, hopefully hopefully it's going to be a good weekend for us. Have you had a chance to run the upgrades on the simulator? Yeah, running on the same, it felt good. But I'm always quite skeptical based on the simulator. You know, we don't have same drivers or anything like that. So, you know, I'm not fully convinced about the correlation of our simulator. So I'll reserve judgment until we run with it on track. Look, the European season has been a frustrating one for you and the team. Just how much do you hope to claw back in the second half of the season? Do you believe you can do what you did last year? Yeah, I mean, last year, the second half was very strong, but it was also as a result of upgrading when maybe others weren't. But, you know, that that didn't necessarily hurt us at the start of this year. So I have full faith in this team. They've done excellent things in the past. And really, we're just trying to give all of the staff the resource and the ability to, you know, unlock their full potential. And that's what IR has been working incredibly hard to do. I'm sure we'll get there. And, you know, this upgrade is a big step for us. And hopefully, like you said, it can reward us with some points. That will be the goal. Good luck. Thank you, Oli. Pierre, let's come to you now. You live in Milan. So in a way, does this feel like something of a home race for you? Yeah, I mean, it's for sure a great feeling to wake up in your own bed before going to the track, enjoying your home coffee. And it's just a different feeling. So it's so it's sort of home race. Obviously, you know, having Flavio as well in the team, Monza is special. Having my first win around here always makes it special, you know, entering the racetrack, the paddock and having a special energy about it. We've been talking to Louis and Oli about upgrades. The team brought a lot on your car last time out at Zandvoort. Just how hopeful are you this weekend? Yeah, it was a good step forward in Zandvoort finishing eighth in the sprint and tenth on Sunday. I think it was tricky to really make the best of it. Being on the sprint weekend, but I think we've learned a lot and I'm feeling more comfortable in the car, more potential. I do feel, you know, before the summer, we were dropped behind the top ten and didn't have the potential to fight for points. And now we're back up there. So, yeah, I'm excited and looking forward to this weekend. And there's been some news from the team since the last race. Franco Colopinto is going to stay with the team for 2027. Just can we get your thoughts on racing alongside him for another season? Yeah, I'm happy for Franco. I think we're working well together with the team. You know, the way we're pushing the team forward, the dynamic thing is learned a lot over, you know, the last two years in Formula One. And yeah, I'm happy for him. And hopefully we can, you know, continue bringing points to the team and deliver the best performance. OK, thank you very much for that. Let's now open this to the floor. We will start with the broadcasters. First question, please. David Croft, Sky Sports F1. Question for you, Lewis. You touched on the celebration of Michael Schumacher's time with Ferrari. And what inspiration have you taken from what Michael did with the Scuderia? And how have you used that to give your input to the team? And what have you done behind the scenes to help the team from, as you say, a lack of focus 12 months ago or a lack of a North Star focus? Well, I mean, I haven't used anything from, I haven't taken a page out of Michael's book in that sense. I think, obviously, I wasn't here in the team when, obviously, there was a big narrative of Michael turning the team around. But ultimately, it's a combination of many, many people. And there's no I in team. So I think I mean, it's like it's I see it's kind of like it's a huge ship and it's the driver's job to work alongside the head figures to try and steer it in the right direction. I think the positive thing of the opportunistic thing for a new driver coming in with experience who has experienced two different teams. When you come from outside, when you're in it, it's sometimes hard to see through, see the wood from the trees, you know. And it's when someone comes in, even if new engineers come in from different places straight away, they say, oh, we did this differently. And not necessarily that's a better way, but it's just a different sometimes different approaches. It's kind of it's it's quite phenomenal, really. If you think that all these teams have the same rules, they do everything differently to get to the same sort of. And then the cars on track are within a tenth. You know, it's quite phenomenal. And that's really what makes our sport so great. I think for me, I pushed for a lot of changes within the car, which last year we we couldn't do one because a cap to because it's what they've done all the time. And it's like, why should we change it? And so it took a lot of a lot of persuading to to get some of those changes done. And then some of them were expensive and they took as a longer process. So I worked in the same and requested that they design it for the same. And I tested in the same last year. And then they added it as options for the car that we use every weekend. And and yes, it just kind of. Though the whole goal was looking, coming from an outside perspective, looking at all the things they do well and nobody does everything perfect and highlighting the things that are maybe good or not as good and say, hey, we need to level up in all these areas. And that's what I try to do. I think Fred even said there was some things on the list that he just can't do because it's too expensive. And but I'm grateful for the ones that he has allowed to to to happen. And and I think that's I feel proud to see the progress that we made. Thank you, Lewis. Next. Mara San Giorgio, Sky Sport F1 Italy. A question to Lewis. Lewis, it is right to say that you arrived this morning. Why and when did you buy your amazing F40? And what does it mean to you? Did you did you realize it? Did you realize that one of your red dream? One hundred percent. Yeah, it's a dream car of mine. So I've been looking for one for for a while. And I want it's one with low mileage. I wanted one with a story and lots have come up in auction over the past couple of years. But in some with low mileage, but just not particularly special or maybe the paint's been redone or something like that. So I wanted to find the most authentic one and managed to come across this one that the drive that the owner had bought it, drove it from Maranello to his home, 69 kilometers and then parked it and never started it again. And the passenger door had never been opened. You know, so it just had this cover on it and all this dust. And then the decision was kind of, what do you do? Do you keep it as an art piece? Keep it all dusty or do you, you know, have them clean it up? So that took me a while to decide. And then I had them redone because I wanted to drive it in because I realized actually what's kind of crazy is I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure. But none of the none of the Ferrari drivers in history have ever arrived in the coolest cars that they have. You know, these iconic ones that the GTO or the F40. And I was like that it has to be done. So what was kind of just I know it's a long answer, but what was also crazy is when they were taking the car apart to check it. Firstly, it's it stood the test of time. So everything was still working. Everything with hardly anything had to be changed. And when they took the engine out, this is they found out the engine's number 44. It's got stamped on the engine number 44 where I couldn't believe it. I was like, did you know you got to be lying and very much fate. And and I thought it was a real opportunity to kind of highlight the history of Ferrari. In their home country, at their race. And when am I ever going to get to do that again? So thank you. Next, can I also just say that we've got two great gentlemen here that please make sure you share the questions between us all and not just at me. I'd rather listen to you after I want to ask for a ride. So apologies. Then this is one more Craig's latest Sky Sports. There is a lot of talk about maybe divided loyalties in Italy with obviously Kimi Antonelli coming here and leading the championship. But it should start at the back. We understand. So how big a deal is it in championship terms? Therefore, for for you this weekend and a supplementary, could you see him as an Italian succeeding? You may be one one day in the future at Ferrari. Anything's possible. I mean, there's the truth is there's a lot of great drivers that could that could join Ferrari in the future. I think Ferrari is Ferrari. I think the Italians, it's the Pope and Ferrari, as far as I'm aware, and pasta and pizza and family, you know, so I think it's great. And he's obviously in the early stages of his life. Toto is not going to let him go anytime soon. So and what's obvious is is if you look at the performance and the gaps between all the teams, you see the top kind of three teams and then there's a big gap performance wise and then another group that's really close to each other. And so though Kimi would start at the back with the power that he has, which is more than most of the cars around him and with the performance that they have, which has been the quickest car generally through the year, he should slide through that pact pretty easy. And that's probably why they chose or see this race or so to do that. So achieving eighth, sixth or whatever it is, it's should be relatively easy for those guys. So I think for us, it's just not focusing on that. We've got to focus on maximizing our weekend and and really try and take the the energy from the Tifosi to push, push our sails to hopefully project us towards the front. Thank you. Next. Hello, Margot Laffitte, Canal Plus. Hello to the three of us. Question for Louis, but maybe Oli you can answer also and Pierre, but we prefer to have an answer in French. But I want to talk about Kimi Antonelli. Louis, you're sharing the Tifosi with him. It was the same last year, but this year it's a winning Kimi. It's a championship leader, Kimi. Can you talk us through your thoughts about this brilliant Italian talent? What is there really to say? He's done an incredible job this year. He's obviously got a great team around him. He has he has Bono, who I know very well, who is sturdy and consistent and would have given him a great amount of advice. And obviously he was kind of in the shadows of us, George and I, when I was when I was there. So he was learning and seeing everything that we've done. So, I mean, he's done everything he needs to do. And I think it's been amazing to see, obviously, the beginning. I don't know if it was last year, the challenge they had or the year before, maybe, but to see his progress at such a young age, to be so consistent. It obviously comes with no baggage, as you do when you're 19 years old and and and hungry and fit. So. Hello, everyone, welcome back to the channel. We have the Italian Grand Prix, let's say Monza, and the first drivers press conference of the Italian Grand Prix weekend is completely here at Monza with Pierre Gasly, Lewis Hamilton and Oliver Biermann facing the media ahead. One of the fastest and most historic races on the Formula One calendar. And unsurprisingly, much of the attention immediately turned towards Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton, for Hamilton arriving at Monza as a Ferrari driver was something different. The atmosphere around the circuit has already started building the Tifosi and the Tifosi are arriving in huge, huge numbers. And Hamilton spoke about just how special it is to experience the level of support wearing a Ferrari red. But there is also a pressure, as we know, Ferrari arrives at its home Grand Prix knowing there is a genuine opportunity for this weekend. Antonelli, on the other hand, is expected to take a major grid penalty after Mercedes decided to install a fresh power unit, while Ferrari has shown throughout the season that it can challenge at the front and that really this is a good thing for Hamilton to give that win to Ferrari drivers. Hamilton made it clear to that that the objective isn't simply to put on a show for the Italian fans. Ferrari wants to fight for the victory. The championship was naturally another major subject. And that will be really interesting because Antonelli continues to lead the standing, but Hamilton remains one of his closest challengers. However, Lewis wasn't interested in making predictions. His message was essentially that Ferrari needs to concentrate on executing each weekend properly, rather than constantly looking at the points table. And Monza could represent a very important opportunity to reduce the championship gap. Another emotional subject surrounding Ferrari this weekend is Michael Schumacher. Ferrari is celebrating 30 years since Schumacher joined the team with Hamilton and Charles Leclerc carrying special details inspired by the seven-time world champion. Hamilton spoke also respectfully about Schumacher's legacy and the enormous impact he had on Ferrari. Winning at Monza, he said, while Ferrari celebrates that history would absolutely make this weekend even more special. We now pass to Oliver Biermann. Biermann and Monza also carries plenty of significance. He remains part of the Ferrari family while continuing to develop with Haas, so racing in Italy always brings additional attention. Biermann has continued gaining experience throughout his second full Formula One season, but he admitted that there is still a rare where both he and Haas need to improve. He said that Monza presents a completely different challenge compared to Zandvoort. Then the cars run extremely low downforce, straight line efficiency becomes crucial, and he said that confidence under heavy braking can make a massive difference. On the other hand, we go with Alpine's Pierre Gasly. Alpine arrives in Italy after Gasly managed to score points at Zandvoort, giving the team something positive to build on. Gasly sits out for FP1, allowing Alpine's reserve driver Paul Aaron to take over his car. Pierre Gasly means that he will do the FP2 and FP3. Gasly acknowledged that losing a practice session is never ideal, particularly at a circuit where braking confidence and aerodynamic efficiency are so important. But he also said that stress, he said that he is a little bit stressed that these rookie seasons are part of F1 and that he and the team will use Aaron's data to help prepare the car. The conversation also turned towards Alpine's long-term direction. Gasly remained a little bit more committed to helping the team move forward, but there is no hiding the fact that midfield remains incredibly competitive. So to recap this, to do a full ending is that the Tifosi expects something special from Ferrari, from Hamilton or Charles Leclerc. On the other hand, we have Antonelli is facing the grid penalty. Hamilton remains firmly involved in the championship fight. And the most interesting thing is that if Ferrari has the performance this weekend, there will be very few places on the Formula One calendar that where victory would mean more than this. The Italian Grand Prix weekend is officially underway and already the pressure around Monza is building. Thank you for watching this video with us. 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