One of the first key questions for Ferrari ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season concerned the race engineer assigned to Lewis Hamilton. It now appears that the Scuderia has reached a clear and strategic decision.
The start of the 2026 season brings significant changes at Ferrari, particularly inside the garage on Lewis Hamilton’s side of the pit wall. After weeks of speculation, rumors and paddock whispers, the Maranello-based team seems to have chosen Carlo Santi as the race engineer for the seven-time world champion, not only for pre-season testing but for more than just an interim period. It is a decision that signals a strong commitment to technical continuity and to building the right working relationship with the new arrival in red.
Ferrari chooses stability with Carlo Santi
Following the departure of Riccardo Adami, who moved into a new position within the Ferrari Driver Academy, many believed Ferrari had opted for a temporary solution limited to winter testing. Instead, Carlo Santi has effectively become the primary reference point for Lewis Hamilton, both during the Barcelona shakedown and throughout the official pre-season tests in Bahrain.
Initially, there was a widespread belief in the paddock that Santi’s role would be short-term, designed only to cover the early transitional phase. However, according to reports from GPblog, Ferrari has decided to continue with Carlo Santi at least for the opening rounds of the 2026 championship, starting with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. The team’s intention is to evaluate the collaboration carefully and methodically before making any long-term or definitive decisions.
This approach reflects a broader strategic mindset within Ferrari. Rather than rushing into another structural change at a delicate moment, the Scuderia appears determined to prioritize operational stability. In modern Formula 1, where communication, data analysis and real-time decision-making are more complex than ever, preserving continuity can be just as important as introducing technical upgrades to the car itself.
The chemistry with Lewis Hamilton will be decisive
It is not yet guaranteed that Carlo Santi will remain Lewis Hamilton’s race engineer for the entire 2026 season. Nevertheless, the early signs emerging from testing are said to be encouraging. The Briton had reportedly expressed concerns about the idea of changing race engineer again after only a handful of races, emphasizing how crucial it is to build a solid and trusting professional relationship.
“It’s essential to build a strong connection,” Lewis Hamilton had previously underlined when discussing the importance of working closely with his race engineer. For a driver of his experience and pedigree, clarity of communication and mutual understanding on the radio can directly influence performance, strategy calls and ultimately race results.
If the positive feeling between Lewis Hamilton and Carlo Santi continues to develop in the opening races, Ferrari will have little reason to intervene once more. Stability in the cockpit-to-pit wall dialogue can translate into more precise feedback, sharper setup adjustments and improved race execution over a Grand Prix weekend.
In recent months, several names had been linked as potential permanent replacements following Riccardo Adami’s change of role, yet no official announcement was ever made. This absence of confirmation further strengthens the idea that Ferrari intends to place its trust in Santi, at least for this crucial early phase of the 2026 Formula 1 campaign.
Much will depend on on-track results and on the evolving understanding between driver and engineer. In Formula 1, the communication loop between the garage and the steering wheel can be as decisive as the outright performance of the car. Strategy execution, tire management, energy deployment and even small adjustments in braking balance can hinge on clear and immediate dialogue. For Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton, getting this partnership right could prove just as important as the competitiveness of the 2026 car itself.
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