Ferrari maintains stability with Santi as Hamilton's race engineer for Miami
Ferrari has decided to keep Carlo Santi as Lewis Hamilton's race engineer for the Miami GP, opting for stability amid a season of engineering changes for the driver. Hamilton has expressed frustration over the lack of a long-term engineering partner, calling it detrimental to his performance. The team continues to integrate Cedric Michel-Grosjean for a future transition.
Ferrari will not make a change to Lewis Hamilton's race engineer for the upcoming Miami Grand Prix, opting for continuity with veteran engineer Carlo Santi. This decision comes amidst a period of instability for Hamilton, who has seen multiple changes to his engineering team since joining the Scuderia, highlighting the challenge of building crucial team chemistry during a transitional season.
Why it matters:
The relationship between a driver and their race engineer is one of the most critical partnerships in Formula 1, built on trust and precise communication. For Hamilton, who is already adapting to a new team and car, this ongoing instability is a significant hurdle. Ferrari's choice to stick with Santi for Miami prioritizes short-term stability over another disruptive change, betting that consistency on the pit wall is more valuable for immediate performance than finding a permanent solution mid-stream.
The details:
- Carlo Santi, a long-time Ferrari engineer who previously worked with Kimi Räikkönen, will continue as Hamilton's primary voice on the radio for the Miami race weekend.
- This follows the departure of Hamilton's initial 2024 race engineer, Riccardo Adami, earlier this year.
- The team brought in former McLaren engineer Cedric Michel-Grosjean as a potential replacement, and while he has been integrated into the team since the Australian Grand Prix, he has not yet taken over the race engineer role.
- Hamilton has been openly frustrated by the situation, stating in pre-season that the constant changes are "detrimental" to his preparation and performance.
What's next:
The arrangement with Santi is viewed as a temporary solution. The team's long-term plan likely involves transitioning the role to Cedric Michel-Grosjean, but the timing remains uncertain. Ferrari is attempting to manage this sensitive personnel change with minimal disruption to Hamilton's on-track performance. The pressure will be on in Miami to see if this continuity pays off with a smoother, more cohesive weekend for the seven-time champion, as the team balances the need for a permanent engineering partnership with the demands of the current championship fight.