Hamilton Rolls Into Monza in a Ferrari F40 — and the Number is Wild

Lewis Hamilton didn't just show up to Monza — he made a statement. The seven-time world champion pulled into Autodromo Nazionale Monza on Thursday, September 3, for the 2026 Formula 1 Pirelli Italian Grand Prix media day riding in one of the most iconic machines ever built. And the details behind his ride are almost too good to be true.

The F40 That Found Him

Hamilton arrived at Ferrari's home circuit in a Ferrari F40, a car he recently acquired after a deliberate search for something truly special. According to Just Jared, the 41-year-old wasn't just hunting for any F40 — he wanted a clean, authentic example with real history behind it.

"The F40, for me, it's just the coolest looking, the lines, the curves of the car," Hamilton explained to F1 correspondent Lawrence Barretto. "It's got the most amazing, most elegant, badass back end of a car you've ever seen."

He found exactly what he was looking for. The car was picked up by its original owner in 1991, driven just 69 kilometres, then parked and left completely untouched — passenger door never opened, covered in dust, essentially frozen in time. It's as close to brand new as a 1991 supercar gets.

The Number That Changes Everything

Here's where the story takes a turn that even Hollywood wouldn't dare script. After completing the purchase, Hamilton discovered that this particular F40's registry card lists it as having the 44th engine built for that model.

44. His driver number. The same number he's carried throughout his championship career.

For a driver who has spoken openly about the spiritual and personal meaning he attaches to milestones in his career — [Hamilton has consistently vowed to keep fighting for an eighth title](/ article/hamilton-vows-to-keep-pushing-for-eighth-title-in-silverstone-showdown) — this kind of coincidence lands differently. It's the sort of detail that makes a collector pause and decide the car was always meant to be his.

Ferrari HP Eyes a Big Weekend at Home

Beyond the headline entrance, there's real business at stake in Monza. Scuderia Ferrari HP is rolling out a new engine this weekend, and both Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc are hungry for a result at the team's home race. The tifosi don't ask for much — just a trophy or two.

Hamilton's form heading into Italy has been a work in progress. [He's been vocal about chasing improvements wherever Ferrari can find them](/ article/hamilton-eyes-improvements-as-ferrari-faces-spa-challenges), and a fresh power unit at Monza — a circuit where straight-line speed is everything — could be the kind of upgrade that actually moves the needle.

Current championship leader Kimi Antonelli and reigning drivers' champion Lando Norris were also spotted arriving for media day, along with Charles Leclerc, Liam Lawson, and a full grid's worth of drivers ready to chase points on Italian soil.

Lightning McQueen Steals a Bit of the Spotlight

Hamilton wasn't the only iconic car turning heads in the paddock. Lightning McQueen — yes, the Disney and Pixar legend — made a special appearance at Monza to mark the 20th anniversary of the Cars franchise. The Mercedes-AMG Safety Car even got a themed livery for the occasion, a nod to F1's ongoing partnership with Disney.

Carlos Sainz was spotted filming McQueen on his phone like the rest of us would, fresh off a Venice Film Festival appearance the night before. Liam Lawson, a self-described Cars fan, probably had the best media day of anyone on the grid.

Hamilton's Monza Moment

When you drive a near-pristine Ferrari F40 to a Ferrari race weekend, park it in the Monza paddock, and then discover the engine number matches your race number — that's not just style. That's a story.

[Hamilton has faced plenty of pressure in his first full season with Ferrari](/ article/hamilton-blasts-ferrari-strategy-with-blunt-radio-question), and the Italian GP represents a chance to deliver something meaningful in front of the team's most passionate fans. The F40 arrival set the tone perfectly. Now it's time to see if the on-track performance matches the entrance.

Related on Ni4o: Hamilton Qualifies Third as Ferrari Trail Mercedes in Austria · Hamilton Shuts Down Verstappen Penalty Demand: 'Back Out Next Time' · Hamilton Vows to Keep Pushing for Eighth Title in Silverstone Showdown