Qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix took place today at the iconic Monza circuit, but it was a session to forget for Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion managed only the sixth fastest time, leaving him visibly frustrated ahead of tomorrow’s race.

Hamilton, who is competing in his final Italian Grand Prix as a Mercedes driver, did not hold back in expressing his disappointment. “I am furious, absolutely furious,” the 39-year-old admitted. “I was expecting to do a better job than I did. I could have been on pole or at least on the front row.”

Hamilton’s frustration was compounded by the fact that he had hoped for a strong showing in his last season with Mercedes. After 12 years and six world titles with the Silver Arrows, Hamilton’s impending move to Ferrari in 2025 has been confirmed, with 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli announced as his replacement. Antonelli, a rising star in Formula Two and a member of Mercedes’ junior program since age 11, was unveiled on Saturday.

The young Italian’s debut weekend, however, was not without incident. Antonelli’s overenthusiasm led to a crash in George Russell’s Mercedes during practice on Friday, costing Russell valuable time. Despite the setback, Russell recovered to qualify third, just behind the two McLarens.

Reflecting on his own performance, Hamilton was candid about his ongoing struggles in qualifying. “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,” he said. “The chance of fighting for a win is out of the window. I’ll probably be kicking myself over the next couple of hours, but I have got to move forward.”

Hamilton also shared his mixed emotions about leaving Mercedes, the team with which he achieved unparalleled success. “The car has been feeling so much better than the last race, and the team deserves better,” he noted. “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’s arrival at Mercedes is seen as part of the team’s future vision, with team boss Toto Wolff emphasizing the potential of the Russell-Antonelli pairing. Although Antonelli’s current deal is for just one year, speculation is already swirling about a potential partnership with Max Verstappen in 2026.

As Hamilton prepares for his final race at Monza in the silver of Mercedes, the spotlight is not just on his performance but on the dawn of a new era for the team he has helped define.