FORMULA 1 racer Lewis Hamilton has a driving ambition to win the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

Victory at Monza on September 12 would complete a grand slam for the 25-year-old McLaren Mercedes star from Herts.

Having already taken the chequered flag at classic tracks Silverstone and Monaco, Hamilton ticked winning at Spa off his wish-list last weekend.

And the former F1 world champion wants to follow his Belgian Grand Prix triumph with another in Italy.

The Tewin driver said: “I’ve made no secret of my wish to win this race. Monza is an incredible circuit – full of history and stories from the past.

“It has a special feeling in the air that you don’t find anywhere else in the world. It’s a circuit that inspires you to race at your limit, and I’ll be pushing hard all weekend.”

Reflecting on his sparkling performance in the rain last weekend, Hamilton said: “Our victory in Belgium showed that, as a team, we never give up, and that we’ll always bounce back from adversity feeling stronger and more determined than before.

“This team has such an incredible fighting spirit – we strive to win, and I hope that Spa is only the start of a run of stronger form for us as we head into the final races of the championship.”

Team-mate Jenson Button, meanwhile, is looking to get his world title defence back on track after being rammed off the Spa circuit by Red Bull rival Sebastian Vettel.

“Obviously, my non-finish in Spa wasn’t ideal for my championship aspirations, so I head to Monza next weekend determined to put myself back in the hunt for the title,” said the reigning F1 world champion.

“Our pace over the whole weekend in Belgium was extremely encouraging. We’re developing the car at a very rapid rate, and we’re learning more about it all the time, so I’m optimistic that we’ll be able to maintain that form in Italy next weekend.”

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team principal Martin Whitmarsh confirmed the team will be pushing hard on two fronts in Monza in an effort to win both this season’s drivers’ crown and constructors’ championship.

“Obviously, Lewis’s victory at Spa was perfectly timed, and has substantially motivated the entire workforce ahead of these closing races,” said the McLaren chief.

“After Jenson’s unfortunate failure to finish in Belgium, we are determined to reignite his championship push next weekend to get him back into the hunt for the drivers’ title.”

First practice for the 2010 Italian Grand Prix takes place next Friday, with qualifying at 1pm on Saturday, September 11.