From F1 to football: former Lewis Hamilton engineer to lead data strategy at Manchester United. Michael Sansoni, former Senior Performance Engineer at Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton’s right-hand man, joins Manchester United.

Mike Sansoni has been appointed as the new data director of Manchester United, a move initiated by Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of both the Red Devils and the Brackley-based Mercedes Formula 1 team.

From Mercedes to Manchester United

The role of data is becoming increasingly crucial across all sports, not just in motorsport. In team disciplines, the position of match analyst has become well established, helping coaches to develop tactical strategies before and during games. Today, however, the use of data extends far beyond tactical analysis, encompassing any insights that can improve overall team performance, from training to player development.

Football has recently begun to draw inspiration from Formula 1 in this regard, and Manchester United is a prime example. The club, one of the most prominent football teams in the world and ranked by Forbes as the second wealthiest on the planet, has signed Michael Sansoni, a Senior Performance Engineer with over a decade of experience at Mercedes. Michael Sansoni was also the right-hand man of seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton during his final years with the team. The British engineer will now serve as the club’s new data director, bringing his extensive expertise in performance analytics to the football pitch.

Michael Sansoni’s objectives at Manchester United include modernizing the club’s data processing systems, implementing high-precision methodologies and predictive analyses, and enhancing scouting and strategic planning through advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence. This strategic appointment is strongly backed by Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United and Mercedes through his Ineos company, who aims to transfer the innovative methods that proved successful at Brackley to the Red Devils.

Sansoni, who holds a degree in aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering with a specialization in advanced aerodynamics from the University of Southampton, commented on his new role: “I am incredibly fortunate to have had not just one, but two dream jobs. After a phenomenal period in Formula 1, it is a privilege to be part of the world’s greatest football club.”

With this appointment, Manchester United signals a new era of data-driven decision-making, leveraging Formula 1-level performance engineering and analytical rigor to gain a competitive edge on and off the pitch.