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Motorsport

Lewis Hamilton willing to sacrifice his Italian GP qualifying to aid F1 team-mate

Lewis Hamilton says he would be happy to provide Ferrari stablemate Charles Leclerc with a slipstream in Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix qualifying.

Leclerc and Hamilton are set for their biggest weekend of the year as winless Ferrari is under pressure to perform in front of its adoring tifosi at the 'Temple of Speed'.

Hamilton in particular has a point to prove after crashing out of last week's Dutch Grand Prix but, as the seven-time world champion has a five-place grid penalty for a pre-race yellow flag infraction in Zandvoort, he says he is willing to help Leclerc' pole bid instead.

When asked if the prospect of helping Leclerc to a tow in Q3 had already been discussed by the Scuderia, Hamilton replied: "No, but I know that Ferrari used to do it many years ago. I remember when I started at least, I noticed Kimi [Raikkonen] and Felipe [Massa] used to do that often.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari (Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images)

"It can be beneficial, but in my past, it felt like there was more risk, and often one person had to be sacrificed for it. So, I’m not sure whether they will do that this weekend. It’s not been discussed.

"But if it meant getting Charles there, then I would be happy to play that role."

Leclerc is the defending winner in Monza, beating McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris to victory in 2024.

Photos from Italian GP - Friday

Lando Norris, McLaren

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Jacky Ickx

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Jackie Stewart

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Fans of Lando Norris, McLaren

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Alexander Albon, Williams

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Jean Alesi

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari, Stefano Domenicali, CEO of the Formula One Group

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Jacques Villeneuve

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Fans of Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Cockpit cooling in the Aston Martin F1 Team garage

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Helmut Marko, Red Bull Racing, Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing Team Principal

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Flavio Briatore,  Alpine

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Alexander Dunne, McLaren

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Alexander Albon, Williams

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Alexander Dunne, McLaren

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Ferrari team mechanics at work

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Paul Aron, Alpine F1

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Alexander Dunne, McLaren

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari runs wide

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Alexander Dunne, McLaren

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Alexander Albon, Williams

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Alexander Albon, Williams

Italian GP - Friday, in photos

Formula 1
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