Hamilton Hails New Ferrari Engineer as 'Italian Bono'

Lewis Hamilton is brimming with praise for his new Ferrari race engineer Carlo Santi, calling him his “Italian Bono” after a much-improved start to the 2026 season. The seven-time champion replaced Riccardo Adami with Santi, who previously engineered Kimi Räikkönen, and the early results are promising: two podiums in the opening rounds and fourth in the drivers' standings, just three points behind teammate Charles Leclerc.

Why it matters:

Driver-engineer chemistry is critical in Formula 1, and Hamilton's 12-year partnership with Peter Bonnington at Mercedes was a key to his dominance. Finding that same trust at Ferrari is essential for Hamilton to challenge for titles again. His public comparison to Bonnington signals a breakthrough in integration after a difficult 2025 adaptation.

The details:

• Santi returned to Ferrari after working with Räikkönen in the late 2010s. He is described as an “OG” – older, experienced, and calm on the radio.
• Hamilton noted that Santi's understanding of engineering nuances allows them to dissect corners into five sections, mirroring the depth he had with Bonnington.
• Santi will not attend every round due to off-track commitments, with Cedric Michel-Grosjean filling in, but he is present in Monaco this weekend.
• The improvement is stark compared to last year, when Hamilton struggled to adapt to Ferrari's systems and often stated that the 2026 regulation change was his target for a fresh start.

What's next:

Hamilton acknowledged there's still a long way to go, but the ship is moving in the right direction. Ferrari has shown race-winning pace at times, and with Monaco – a track that traditionally suits car handling over raw power – this weekend could offer a clearer picture of their progress. If the chemistry continues to gel, Hamilton could be a regular threat for victories later in the season.