The 'Italian Bono' fuelling Hamilton's renaissance

Lewis Hamilton has revealed that a change in race engineer has been a key factor in his resurgence at Ferrari in 2026, labeling Carlo Santi as his 'Italian Bono' – a direct comparison to his long-time Mercedes engineer Peter Bonnington. The relationship, initially expected to be temporary, has now been made permanent after two podium finishes in the Chinese and Canadian Grands Prix.

Why it matters:

In Formula 1, the driver-engineer bond is often the difference between a good season and a great one. After a rocky first year at Maranello marked by tension in races like Monaco, Hamilton's improved communication with Santi has unlocked better car feedback and setup, giving Ferrari a more competitive package and raising hopes for a title challenge later in the season.

The Details:

• Hamilton describes Santi as "an older guy that's been around the block", very calm, and able to dive into detailed engineering discussions.
• Background: Hamilton worked with Riccardo Adami in 2025, but winter changes brought Santi in. After immediate chemistry, the arrangement has been extended indefinitely.
• Team changes: Fred Vasseur facilitated the reshuffle and other updates, including suspension modifications Hamilton requested after simulator tests.
• Hamilton says improvements are "a million times better than last year" and he's "starting to see the fruits" of the background work.
• 2026 results: third in China, second in Canada – his strongest since leaving Mercedes.

What's next:

Hamilton remains realistic about Ferrari's overall pace but believes the team is "on the right path". The upcoming Monaco Grand Prix will be a telling indicator – a circuit where last year's communication issues were exposed. With his 'Italian Bono' by his side, Hamilton is hopeful of a more harmonious and successful weekend.