Lewis Hamilton is once again without a dedicated race engineer, and Frédéric Vasseur has addressed the situation directly on behalf of Ferrari. The Englishman’s second season at Maranello has already begun, with Hamilton taking part in pre-season testing in Barcelona and Bahrain with the new SF-26. However, the season started without a permanent race engineer, prompting the French manager to comment on the matter and clarify the team’s position amid swirling media speculation.
Carlo Santi temporarily supporting Hamilton
At this early stage, it is Carlo Santi who is supporting the seven-time world champion. Ferrari has described this as a temporary arrangement, and Lewis has confirmed that it may remain in place for the first races of the season. The Scuderia is actively looking for a permanent figure to support car #44, particularly in an era of Formula 1 where the race engineer plays a crucial role in performance and strategy.
Vasseur sets the record straight on Hamilton’s race engineer
Frédéric Vasseur gave a definitive response regarding the situation surrounding Hamilton’s race engineer. The Team Principal made a direct request to the media in an effort to stop the endless speculation about Ferrari’s potential decisions.
“Please, enough with this story,” he insisted. “In a paddock with 22 cars, you have six or seven new engineers every year, and the same goes for Team Principals. I’m probably the longest-serving alongside Toto Wolff. You change three or four sporting directors every year, and it’s not the end of the team.”
Fred Vasseur emphasized that in Formula 1, success is not down to a single individual. His comments reflect Ferrari’s broader philosophy. A similar approach was highlighted when Adrian Newey joined Aston Martin amid rumors linking him to Ferrari.
“Today, the team consists of around 1,500 people. It’s not just about one race engineer. Whoever you see on the pit wall leads a whole team working on the car, and it’s not about individual personalities,” Fred Vasseur added.
The focus remains on driver and pit wall harmony
It is still unclear who will take on the role alongside Lewis Hamilton. The most important factor is ensuring a strong understanding between the pit wall and the driver. The race engineer remains essential, especially with a technical cycle that requires multiple operations to manage the car’s battery effectively.
The focus on Lewis Hamilton’s engineering setup at Ferrari reflects the immense pressure on the Scuderia to deliver a title-contending package for the 2026 regulations. While Fred Vasseur’s plea to “stop the story” highlights his desire for internal stability, the interim role of Carlo Santi confirms that finding the right “voice in the ear” for a seven-time champion is no simple task. As the team navigates the complexities of the SF-26, the resolution of this engineering vacancy will be a key indicator of how seamlessly Hamilton can integrate into Ferrari’s pursuit of a world championship in this new hybrid era.
Leave a Reply