‘Absolutely furious’ and ‘surreal’ were Lewis Hamilton’s verdicts on his final visit to Monza as a Mercedes driver.
A year from now, the seven-time world champion will wear the red of Ferrari, his place at the Silver Arrows having been filled by Kimi Antonelli, an 18-year-old Italian who was confirmed as his replacement on Saturday.
The Formula Two driver talked of Hamilton as ‘irreplaceable’ when he was unveiled to much pomp and circumstance. He was assured and his English word perfect, even if he was a little embarrassed by the overexuberance that caused him to crash George Russell’s Mercedes in practice on Friday.
That wasn’t in the script and Russell lost time as repairs were carried out before he took over driving duties and qualified third behind the two McLarens.
As for Hamilton, he managed only the sixth fastest time. ‘I am furious, absolutely furious,’ said the 39-year-old. ‘I was expecting to do a better job than I did. I could have been on pole or at least on the front row.
Lewis Hamilton was left ‘furious’ with himself after the Italian Grand Prix qualifying session
The 39-year-old could only manage the sixth fastest time on track in Q3 in his Mercedes
His poor qualifying means he will start P6 in tomorrow’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza
‘It was ridiculous from my side and completely unacceptable. I have no-one to blame but myself.
‘Qualifying has been my weakness for a while now and I can’t figure it out. ‘I’ll keep trying. I have got to figure out how to get back to my old self.
‘The chance of fighting for a win is out of the window. I will probably be kicking myself over the next couple of hours, but I have got to move forward.’
Plenty lot of thoughts were running through Hamilton’s mind after 12 years and six world titles at Mercedes.
This weekend is Hamilton’s last Italian Grand Prix as a Mercedes driver before he joins Ferrari
Kimi Antonelli, 18, was announced this weekend as the Brit’s replacement at Mercedes
‘The car has been feeling so much better than the last race, and the team deserve better,’ he added. ‘Maybe they’ll get that with Kimi.
‘I knew his signing would be announced this morning, but it was surreal to see my seat officially going. It was emotional, but I am happy for Kimi and this team.’
Antonelli, who joined Mercedes’ junior programme at 11, comes in on just a one-year deal.
Boss Toto Wolff talked of the Russell-Antonelli pairing as representing his team’s future, adding that he knew he would plump for the youngster ‘five minutes’ after Hamilton told him he was off to Ferrari from 2025.
However, Verstappen is still on every radar for 2026, and it may yet be that the new combination is in a shootout to be the Dutchman’s partner.