Confirmed
Hamilton arrives at Monza in rare Ferrari F40
Lewis Hamilton made a striking entrance at the Monza circuit ahead of the Italian Grand Prix in his newly restored Ferrari F40.
Lewis Hamilton arrived at the Monza paddock today in a rare Ferrari F40, creating a significant stir ahead of the Italian Grand Prix. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion drove his recently acquired supercar, which bears a personalised number plate with his race number 44, directly into the paddock for Thursday’s media day. This eye-catching arrival precedes Ferrari’s home race at Monza, where the team aims for a strong performance.
A Lifelong Dream Fulfilled
Hamilton unveiled his Ferrari F40 on social media earlier this week, confirming it was a car he had long desired. He stated, “My very own F40. This is the car of my dreams and has been for as long as I can remember.” The British driver acquired the vehicle after it had reportedly sat in a garage, gathering dust for over three decades, according to Crash.net. Ferrari’s mechanics in Maranello undertook a comprehensive restoration project to bring the iconic car back to life. Hamilton noted its significance, stating that upon joining Ferrari in 2025, he ensured he would have one with him on his first day at Maranello.
The Ferrari F40 is an exceptionally rare vehicle; Ferrari manufactured only 1,311 units between 1987 and 1992. These cars can command prices around $3 million today. Hamilton expressed his gratitude to the “master engineers and mechanics” at the factory for their work, describing the experience as a “dream come true.” He was dressed in a stylish black suit and a tan overcoat for his paddock appearance, further enhancing the moment, as reported by Motorsport.com.
Monza's Grand Stage
Hamilton's arrival at Monza in the F40 garnered considerable attention, with fans on social media praising the symbolic pairing of one of Formula 1's most successful drivers with an iconic Ferrari at the team’s home circuit. This spectacle is reminiscent of his arrival at last year's Italian Grand Prix, where he rode a tricolore Ducati for qualifying, Crash.net reported. The Italian Grand Prix is scheduled for this weekend, with the first session commencing on Friday, 4 September, at 13:30 Finnish time.
Championship Battle Intensifies
Ferrari will be looking for a strong showing at Monza, a circuit where Charles Leclerc secured a home victory in 2024. In the current 2026 season, 12 rounds have been completed. Lewis Hamilton is currently third in the drivers' championship standings, holding 169 points. He is level on points with Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team driver George Russell and trails championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team by 59 points, as Antonelli has accumulated 219 points. Valtteri Bottas, the Finnish driver for Sauber, is currently 21st in the standings with 0 points. The most recent race, the Dutch Grand Prix, was won by McLaren's Lando Norris, with Antonelli finishing 11.536 seconds behind in second place. Ferrari's hopes for a significant points haul at their home race remain high.
Status And Sources
This story is labelled Confirmed, which means the people involved have said this on the record. The rules behind those labels are in the editorial policy, and the desk that published it is Eero Lahtinen.
Written from the following reporting. Each link goes to the newsroom's own page, not to an aggregator:
- Crash.netcrash.net
- Motorsport.commotorsport.com
