Between the seven-time Formula 1 world champion and the race engineer who was only supposed to be a temporary solution, a special connection has quickly developed.
Lewis Hamilton and Carlo Santi are in paradise
“Carlo is my Italian Bono.” Lewis Hamilton could hardly have chosen stronger words to praise the man who was originally expected to serve only as a stand-in but who has instead become a key figure in helping the British driver extract the very best from himself at Ferrari.
On paper, Lewis Hamilton’s race engineer Carlo Santi was merely the replacement for Cedric Michel-Grosjean, who had been recruited from McLaren. However, a strong bond has rapidly formed between Lewis Hamilton and Carlo Santi. As Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur pointed out some time ago, there is no urgency to revisit the situation.
“Things are going well, there is absolutely no rush to address the issue of a switch between Santi and Grosjean. We will discuss it,” said Frederic Vasseur.
The results certainly support that view. Over the last three Grands Prix, Lewis Hamilton has secured two second-place finishes and claimed his first victory as a Ferrari driver.
“The next seven laps are your race. We have a chance. Give me everything you’ve got,” Carlo Santi told Lewis Hamilton over the radio after the second pit stop. At that stage of the race, George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli were losing valuable time while battling each other, allowing Lewis Hamilton to move into the virtual lead.
The Virtual Safety Car triggered by Fernando Alonso’s technical problem then handed Ferrari a further opportunity. Lewis Hamilton was able to make his final pit stop while retaining the lead of the race, avoiding the need to fight his way past rivals on track despite having fresher tyres.
Once back out in front, Lewis Hamilton pulled away from the field and cruised to victory. Standing alongside him during the celebrations was his unexpected “saint in paradise” — Carlo Santi.
“A very strong understanding has blossomed between Santi and Hamilton, and even the engineer from Verona has been surprised by how naturally the partnership has developed,” wrote Daniele Sparisci in Corriere della Sera.
The transition from temporary stand-in to Lewis Hamilton’s “Italian Bono” happened remarkably quickly. The question now is just how far the Hamilton-Santi partnership can go as Ferrari continues its push for success in Formula 1.
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