The Principality paints itself Ferrari Red on this opening day of practice, maintaining the Scuderia’s incredibly strong momentum heading into the iconic Monaco Grand Prix weekend. Yet, it was Lewis Hamilton who stole the ultimate headline, topping the timing sheets in Free Practice 2, narrowly edging out Charles Leclerc. It is a robust, solid Friday result that perfectly mirrors the bubbling optimism pulsing through the garage ahead of qualifying.

For one magical weekend every year, the everyday streets that the same Charles and Lewis walk turn into the absolute center of the motorsport universe, the definitive “place to be.”

Behind the scene with Lewis Hamilton about the recent results, his fondest memories of this historic layout, and what it truly feels like to hit the asphalt at his definitive home track.

A lot of your rivals are saying Ferrari is the favorite this weekend based on the car’s strengths. Do you share their optimism?
“This track probably will go better for us than some of the others we have visited recently. Obviously, looking at the layout, straight-line power isn’t necessarily going to be much of an issue here, and our car is notoriously good at most speeds around tighter complexes. So, I think we’ll absolutely be competitive”.

How much of your improved form so far has come down to the new configuration of the car?
“What most people don’t fully realize is the immense amount of work that we’re doing that you have to do in the background. Of course, you see drivers in the past who can just join a team, hop in, and drive the car. Sometimes that works, and sometimes it doesn’t. For me, I look at a team as having like every single thing it needs to succeed, but it just needs all the pieces of the puzzle placed in the exact right position for it to get there. I’ve been 100% committed to getting to that point, knowing that particular balance. We’ve started to see the fruits of that labor in the car, specifically with the same things on the car and getting those suspension elements working perfectly. So, it’s great to be able to be a part of moving and working with everyone to ship and steer it in the right direction.

Every details count in the car as in the garage.  how do you create that ideal driver-engineer synergy?
“We work actually relatively well together. I think catering to a driver’s specific needs takes time when you’re given engineering feedback. Their understanding of the data has to merge with our understanding of all the elements that contribute to the struggles in the cockpit. When you try to describe what the car is doing from the entry of that corner until you’ve made an exit, you have to dissect it. We literally dissected it into five distinct sections. Having that process proves that the driver-engineer dynamic is not always a simple relationship; it requires deep analysis.

Are you expecting to enjoy this weekend because it is differently your home?
“Absolutely. Being here, sleeping in your own bed, and racing on these legendary streets makes the entire weekend feel incredibly special”.

Which is one of your memories connected to Monaco?
“I would say one of the interesting things goes back to when I was like 13. I had just started racing in Europe, in Italy, which was like the center of the world at the time. I remember during one of my first races, a fellow driver who was a couple of years older than me was pushing hard. We spent a race pushing together for 23 laps, staying within two laps of each other, and that was the exact moment our partnership and friendship started. He invited me to go to his home. I remember him and his dad—they were playing with a jet at the time. I was a kid, I didn’t even know people had jets. It was the most unbelievable thing—a landed helicopter standing right next to it. I was like, this is like James Bond stuff. And then I came to where his dad lived, and ironically, it’s the exact same building where I live today in Monaco. I remember going through his parents’ place, seeing the view, and thinking: one day, I’m going to live in a place like this. That’s where I live today. It just takes me back. I was fortunate to have experiences like that which show you what is possible when you’re growing up in a small town like where I came from.
Back then, you didn’t get to experience things easily; it was really hard and required doing things on the cheap. Thanks to racing and thanks to meeting people, it changed. Originally, it was just me and my dad with a rental car, an old bed, turning up with our kart and equipment. That was my favorite time, and looking back, it’s still incredible to follow up on where this journey has gone.

If you look back at Monaco, what stands out as the single best moment of Monaco GP you always remember from the past?
“It’s back in GP2. I remember coming into the weekend, and obviously, the support paddocks are located far away from the main F1 setup. You stay outside, and everything is expensive.  I remember someone hooking me up with a scooter so I could make my way into town, and they helped me out with a hotel room. Anyway, I was just riding around town on this scooter all weekend. Hanging out during that specific weekend stands out as a really, really good memory. I have other great moments, but that individual weekend was just pure fun”.