F1 News Today: Ferrari F1 Star Blames Ferrari Change As Antonelli Confirms Grid penalty

F1 News Today: Lewis Hamilton blames Ferrari change as Antonelli confirms grid penalty

Lewis Hamilton has pointed to a subtle change made to his Ferrari as one of the reasons behind a difficult start to the Dutch Grand Prix weekend, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli has confirmed that a grid penalty is waiting for him at the Italian Grand Prix.

Hamilton entered the Zandvoort weekend hoping Ferrari’s recent improvements could help him reduce the gap to Antonelli in the drivers’ championship. However, his Sprint weekend did not develop as expected. He finished seventh in the Sprint after starting from a less competitive position, leaving him with more work to do in Sunday’s main event.

The seven-time world champion suggested that a relatively small adjustment to his Ferrari after practice had affected the car’s behaviour. Hamilton felt the difference was significant enough to influence his performance, particularly as Ferrari searched for the right setup around the demanding Zandvoort circuit.

Despite the setback, Hamilton remained focused on finding a way forward. Ferrari’s development work has given the team greater confidence during the season, and Hamilton has already demonstrated that he can fight at the front after securing his maiden Ferrari Grand Prix victory in Barcelona earlier in the year.

The championship picture, however, continues to favour Antonelli. The Mercedes teenager extended his advantage over Hamilton during the Dutch Sprint, finishing fourth while his main rival could only manage seventh. Antonelli’s lead stood at 53 points after the Sprint, although the Mercedes driver admitted that the weekend had provided an important wake-up call following mistakes in qualifying sessions.

Antonelli then recovered to qualify third for Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix, behind McLaren’s Lando Norris and Mercedes teammate George Russell. Norris took pole after producing a strong final lap, while Russell qualified second. Hamilton qualified fifth, ahead of Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc.

Away from the immediate Dutch Grand Prix battle, Antonelli faces another challenge later in the season. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has confirmed that the Italian driver is set to receive a significant grid penalty at his home Italian Grand Prix at Monza because of his power-unit allocation.

The penalty could become an important factor in the championship fight, particularly with Hamilton and Russell continuing to pressure the young Mercedes leader. Antonelli has already shown impressive consistency throughout 2026, including a run of six victories, but recent races have demonstrated that his advantage cannot be taken for granted.

For Hamilton, the immediate priority is to maximise Ferrari’s performance in the final Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. With the championship battle still open, every point could prove valuable as the season moves toward its decisive stages. The combination of Hamilton’s Ferrari challenge and Antonelli’s looming Monza penalty promises to add another layer of intrigue to an increasingly competitive 2026 title fight.