Lewis Hamilton honored Michael Schumacher ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, which takes place at Monza, a historic racing venue in Italy. Ferrari, the team Hamilton now drives for, has announced plans to pay tribute to Schumacher, one of the most successful drivers in Formula One history. The tribute includes a special livery (the distinctive color scheme and design of the car) for Hamilton and Ferrari's other driver, Charles Leclerc, as well as race suits that reflect Schumacher’s legacy. This is part of a celebration marking the 30th anniversary of Schumacher joining Ferrari, during which he won five of his seven world championships. The livery design is inspired by the 1996 Ferrari F310, the car Schumacher drove during his debut season. It features gold accents on the wheels, a nod to the original model, along with Schumacher’s personal logo and the seven stars that once decorated his helmet—symbolizing his seven world titles. Ex-Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel will also participate in the tribute by driving Schumacher’s 2022 championship-winning car for a special lap before Sunday’s race. Hamilton, who will compete at Monza for the second time in his career, described the tribute as a "privilege" and said the seven stars on the car give him a sense of connection to Schumacher’s legacy. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli will face a grid penalty due to exceeding his allowed number of engines, meaning he will start at the back of the grid. Ferrari, meanwhile, has introduced a power unit upgrade for this race, which Hamilton called a "step forward" and a sign that the team is still striving for improvement. He noted that in the previous race, Ferrari had struggled with speed on the straights but felt this upgrade would help them close the gap. Hamilton made a striking entrance into the Monza paddock on Thursday, driving a recently acquired Ferrari F40, a classic model from the 1980s. The car bore his personal number plate and, coincidentally, had a "number 44 engine" stamped on it. Hamilton viewed this as a sign of fate, saying it was an opportunity to highlight Ferrari’s rich history in their home country. He emphasized that this moment was unique and one he would not get to experience again.