Hamilton “enjoying driving” ahead of Italian Grand Prix
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Formula 1 returns to our screens this weekend, with Lewis Hamilton hoping to extend his lead at the top of the rankings and make it two wins in a row.
He is odds-on at 4/9 with Coral to win the Italian Grand Prix at Monza as he did last year for the second time. Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, meanwhile, is racing for the first time since becoming a father and has odds of 11/4 to secure victory.
Hamilton, who has 10 pole positions this season and a career 48 (17 shy of his hero Ayrton Senna’s), will be looking to take advantage of another start in clear air.
“You are always adjusting and trying to improve,” Hamilton said. “It’s never ending.
“I will always drive well no matter what but you have to keep working at it.
“This year, it has been a little tweak in qualifying, a small tweak, but it’s worked.
“It’s not like I was a disastrous driver in qualifying. I was always quick in qualifying, but it was a bit more attacking back then.”
Hamilton is 36 points better off than he was at this stage last year which he conceded was “mentally trying” after clashes with Rosberg and issues with the car, though this year has been almost faultless.
“Being on a high, naturally from winning the world championship, just released a lot of tension, especially after a lot of years of not winning the world championship,” he added.
“Last year was a difficult year. I was a little bit unfortunate with some scenarios. It was a very mentally trying year.
“This year, I have just been able to enjoy driving. If anything, it has made it better.
“I don’t feel that intensity when it comes to the race weekends. I don’t feel any pressure,” Hamilton continued.
“I spent a lot of time analysing my year and areas I want to improve this year.
“I know more than ever what I am capable of.”
Sebastian Vettel, who won at Monza in 2013, is 16/1 to do so again having already made it a hat-trick of victories here. Lotus driver Romain Grosjean finished third last time out after a very impressive drive and is 11/2 to secure a podium finish this time around, while Rosberg, who got the fastest lap is 12/5 to do so again.
