Patrese: Hamilton under pressure at Monza as Ferrari face crisis

The Tifosi will demand a response at the Italian Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc revered at his home race and Lewis Hamilton preparing for his first Monza outing as a Ferrari driver.

Grand Prix winner Riccardo Patrese believes the seven-time world champion must fight harder to recover from his Zandvoort crash and help rebuild Ferrari in what he described as “a very disappointing” campaign.

Patrese is clear on the scale of Ferrari’s task: “Yes, but it is always the same for Ferrari. There will be a lot of enthusiasm about Monza from the Tifosi. Ferrari has to work, especially for next year. Sometimes they have a car that can at least fight for a place on the podium, third place let’s say. But generally, they are missing something.”

On Hamilton’s role in that process, Patrese added: “Lewis, of course, is not having a good time in Ferrari, he’s not enjoying it. But he does want to carry on. I think his experience for the future could help Ferrari to improve, especially in the organisation, and highlight things that are not going well inside the team. Overall, Ferrari is very disappointing, and I have no problem saying that.”

Looking ahead to Monza, Patrese does not see Ferrari as serious challengers for victory: “McLaren, they have a car that has proved it can operate in any kind of circuit. So, probably it will be a fight between the two McLarens. I suppose Ferrari could be competitive. Lewis might get to the podium. But to beat the McLaren will be a problem.”

The Italian veteran explained that Norris carries greater pressure in the title fight with Piastri: “I think for sure Lando has more pressure than Piastri, and he will push more. Lando has to try to be in pole position and then lead the race and win. If he doesn’t win, if Piastri keeps winning, then it’s a big problem. So, we will see a super Lando and then we will see what happens with the rest.”

Hamilton’s Turn 3 accident at Zandvoort only added to Ferrari’s woes. Patrese reflected: “A lot of people made mistakes in the Dutch Grand Prix, not only Lewis. Maybe it was to do with the characteristic of the circuit, the grip. But yes, we are not used to seeing Lewis make so many mistakes, that’s for sure.

"And because of that, it is obvious internally he does not have serenity. The way that he’s talking, the mistakes he makes, means that inside he’s a little bit nervous, not in a positive mood," warned Patrese

On Hamilton’s future, Patrese said: “If it were me and I had wanted to go to Ferrari like Lewis to get maybe my eighth championship, I would fight even harder and say, ‘Now I have to try harder myself in driving and also to work to put this thing right.’ He is not a person who gives up easily.

"So, yes, this year for sure he will keep going. But if next year he is not happy with the car and doesn’t believe they can produce a winning car, then maybe he can say, ‘Okay, I have had enough. I am old, I have won everything. Time to stop.’”

Patrese also commented on the teenager who replaced Hamilton at Mercedes, Kimi Antonelli: “All of us have made mistakes in the past, which makes us look like idiots. When you say Antonelli made a mistake, it was only one year ago that he was a Formula 2 driver. He’s very young but he has proved to be quick. That is the most important thing.”

Patrese drew parallels with his own Formula 1 debut season: “I got into F1 when the Shadow team chose me to debut in Monaco. They did so because they saw my speed. And they thought that with that speed, I could be very good. They knew that I had to make mistakes.

"When Toto Wolff sees Antonelli make a mistake like he did on Sunday, he also sees that his speed is good. Because speed, you cannot build. That comes naturally," ventured the 71-year-old Italian, a six time Grand Prix winner.