Ferrari F1 drivers downplay importance of much-hyped Monza filming day

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have dismissed the notion that they were able to 'learn anything' during a much-anticipated filming day ahead of the Miami Grand Prix. 

The five-week break following the Japanese weekend provided an unexpected opportunity for teams to build on the learnings of the opening three rounds and bring significant upgrade packages to Miami. Such was the scope for change, that Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur had mused the first of three US events this year could mark the start of a 'new championship', with the pecking order significantly shaken up.

Ahead of the return to action, Ferrari completed a filming day at Monza, with the team running an upgraded 'macarena wing' among other upgrades.

Asked how much they had been able to learn from the running, both Hamilton and Leclerc provided similarly short answers. 

“It was a filming day, so we just filmed the whole day," said Leclerc, while Hamilton, when quizzed by Crash.net, said: “I didn’t learn anything in Monza because it’s a filming day."

However, Hamilton also completed a Pirelli tyre test on wet rubber at Fiorano, something that could provide at least a slight advantage with treacherous conditions forecast for Sunday's grand prix.

"I did two days testing in the rain at Fiorano, so that hopefully puts me in a decent position if it rains on Sunday," added the seven-time champion. "But I think it has been good for everyone to step back and analyse the last three races."

Hamilton struggled last time out in Japan, and finished 25 seconds off the lead, and 10 seconds behind team-mate Leclerc. This was after a mid-race safety car period had bunched the field back together. 

Believing that Ferrari has found the cause of his problems, Hamilton said: "Obviously, the last race, I could see I was down on power. We did a deep dive and could understand that it wasn’t the engine, but the systems altogether, including several things coming together to lose me 8-9 tenths in straightline power. We got on top of that, worked in the sim, I’ve been at the factory every week, been training a huge amount, and I feel refreshed for this weekend.”