Lewis Hamilton admits Ferrari pain in team garage exchange

Ferrari have released footage of F1 legend Lewis Hamilton admitting that he was in pain following last weekend's Italian Grand Prix.

The seven-time champion put on a brave face last week as he returned to the home of his new team, addressing thousands of adoring fans in Milan on Wednesday before heading to the track for the 16th round of the championship.

But with the pressure of the tifosi building up, Hamilton knew he had his work cut out at Monza with a five-place grid penalty carrying over from the previous race at Zandvoort.

Despite qualifying fifth on Saturday, the 40-year-old had to line up P10 on Sunday as a result, but managed to make up four places before crossing the line in sixth.

And it seems those places didn't come easy, with Hamilton admitting that he endured pain throughout the 53-lap race as a result of pressing the pedals so hard.

Hamilton fights for Ferrari respect

In a video shared to social media by the official Ferrari F1 account, Hamilton discussed his race in the garage, saying: "I couldn't push the pedal any further. Maximum!"

"I have pain here," the champion admitted, gesturing to the right hand side of his lower body.

"Because I was pushing, I was pushing so hard. If the pedals bent you know why," he concluded.

Despite his efforts, Hamilton's penalty meant he has lost yet more ground in the drivers' championship against team-mate Charles Leclerc, with Hamilton now 46 points behind the Monegasque driver.

He remains in sixth in the standings after the Italian GP, but despite the championship setback, Hamilton has certainly earned the respect of the tifosi who witnessed his desperate drive to pull back as many points as possible at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.

F1 HEADLINES: FIA announce Verstappen inspection as date set for controversial penalty review

READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton hit with Ferrari loss after Italian GP penalty

READ MORE: Norris blasts 'idiot' Verstappen after Italian Grand Prix scrap

Related