Hamilton might 'watch Game of Thrones' if stuck in DRS train in Italian GP
Lewis Hamilton fears getting "stuck" in a DRS train in the Formula 1 Italian Grand Prix coming from 19th, joking he'll take an iPad to entertain himself if that happens.
The Mercedes driver qualified fifth at Monza on Saturday but will start down in 19th having taken penalties for a power unit change.
Hamilton has enjoyed numerous successful charges through the field with Mercedes in his F1 career, but expects "everyone is going to be in a DRS train" in the race having struggled to follow and overtake Alfa Romeo's Valtteri Bottas in practice.
"I was behind Valtteri yesterday in practice and I couldn't catch him or pass him," Hamilton said when asked about the DRS effect at Monza this weekend.
"So, I hope I don't get stuck tomorrow.
"But I'm imagining everyone is going to be in a DRS train and it's just going to be sitting there and waiting for strategy, tyre degradation to come tomorrow.
"I was thinking about taking an iPad with me and in the DRS line just watch the new Game of Thrones [which] is out."
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff shared Hamilton's fears, but is confident the speed of the W13 in the corners and a "clever strategy" can bring his driver into the points on Sunday.
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG, in Parc Ferme after Qualifying
Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images
"Well, he's gonna need the iPad to entertain himself and we're going to need the iPad to entertain ourselves," Wolff said.
"I really hope that it's not the DRS strain that we fear. But we have a good race car that is going around the corners quicker than all the others and we can play a clever strategy and bring him back solid in the points, whatever happens in the race.
"And it might be advantageous. And he can come all the way to the front, but that's a long shot obviously."
When asked by Motorsport.com if there was much room to play with strategy at Monza, Hamilton feels Pirelli's insistence on bringing harder compounds makes it an "easy" one-stop race and is hopeful of having "a nice SC (safety car) offering" to help him.
"They should bring the softest tyres here to promote more pitstops and stuff," he added. "But they keep bringing these hard tyres and you can only do one.
"It's a one-stop easy tomorrow, generally, so strategy won't do too much.
"But I hope there's safety cars and those types of things. I've been so unfortunate with the safety car timings this year. It would be nice to have a nice SC offering tomorrow."
Related video
Norris and Ricciardo expect struggle to repeat 2021 Italian GP F1 heroics
De Vries had 'lost the thought' of racing in F1 as reserve driver
“Strong penalties” only way to stop constant MotoGP Turn 1 pile-ups
“Strong penalties” only way to stop constant MotoGP Turn 1 pile-ups “Strong penalties” only way to stop constant MotoGP Turn 1 pile-ups
Marini fractures collarbone in MotoGP sprint race crash with team-mate
Marini fractures collarbone in MotoGP sprint race crash with team-mate Marini fractures collarbone in MotoGP sprint race crash with team-mate
The hockey expansion rule that could benefit Andretti's F1 bid
The hockey expansion rule that could benefit Andretti's F1 bid The hockey expansion rule that could benefit Andretti's F1 bid
McDowell leads NASCAR Cup practice at Texas; Bell spins
McDowell leads NASCAR Cup practice at Texas; Bell spins McDowell leads NASCAR Cup practice at Texas; Bell spins
Marquez will take Honda's interests into account while finalising MotoGP future
Marquez will take Honda's interests into account while finalising MotoGP future Marquez will take Honda's interests into account while finalising MotoGP future
“Strong penalties” only way to stop constant MotoGP Turn 1 pile-ups
“Strong penalties” only way to stop constant MotoGP Turn 1 pile-ups “Strong penalties” only way to stop constant MotoGP Turn 1 pile-ups
Stella: "Remarkable" Red Bull F1 gap highlights scale of McLaren's work
Stella: "Remarkable" Red Bull F1 gap highlights scale of McLaren's work Stella: "Remarkable" Red Bull F1 gap highlights scale of McLaren's work
How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation
How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation
Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge
Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP
The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP
The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake
The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake
Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
The Singapore secrets that helped Sainz end Verstappen's F1 winning streak
The Singapore secrets that helped Sainz end Verstappen's F1 winning streak The Singapore secrets that helped Sainz end Verstappen's F1 winning streak
How a McLaren winner overshadowed by scandal was dealt self-inflicted setbacks
How a McLaren winner overshadowed by scandal was dealt self-inflicted setbacks How a McLaren winner overshadowed by scandal was dealt self-inflicted setbacks
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.