Lewis Hamilton’s revival at Ferrari has been attributed to several factors, from the team’s recent technical upgrades to the seven-time world champion’s growing confidence inside the SF-26. However, many within the Formula 1 paddock believe there is another crucial element behind the Briton’s recent success: his relationship with race engineer Carlo Santi.
Since joining Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton has worked hard to adapt to a completely new environment after spending more than a decade at Mercedes. While the transition was not always smooth, recent performances suggest that the Maranello team has finally found the right formula to unlock the best version of its star driver. At the centre of that process stands Carlo Santi, the experienced Italian engineer who has rapidly become one of the most influential figures in Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari project.
With Ferrari now emerging as a genuine contender at the front of the grid and Lewis Hamilton delivering increasingly impressive performances, Carlo Santi’s role has attracted growing attention. In fact, many observers have already begun referring to him as Lewis Hamilton’s “Italian Bono” — a comparison that speaks volumes about the trust and understanding developing between the two men.
The Ferrari engineer helping Lewis Hamilton find his rhythm
Ferrari’s decision to move away from long-time race engineer Riccardo Adami surprised many inside Formula 1. Adami had spent years working with top drivers, including Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz, and few expected a major reshuffle within the engineering department.
The change ultimately opened the door for Carlo Santi, who stepped into a key role shortly before the Barcelona test programme. Initially viewed as a temporary solution while Ferrari evaluated its long-term structure, Santi quickly established a strong working relationship with Lewis Hamilton.
As the season progressed, the collaboration evolved from a practical arrangement into one of the strongest driver-engineer partnerships on the grid. Ferrari management reportedly recognised the immediate chemistry between the two, and Lewis Hamilton himself became increasingly comfortable with the communication style and technical feedback provided by the Italian engineer.
That connection has coincided with a noticeable improvement in results, leading many to view Carlo Santi as one of the driving forces behind Lewis Hamilton’s growing competitiveness in red.
A veteran Ferrari engineer with decades of experience
Carlo Santi is far from a newcomer within the Ferrari organisation. Born in Verona 52 years ago, he has spent much of his professional career inside the Scuderia’s Formula 1 programme.
Many Ferrari fans will remember his close association with Kimi Raikkonen. After years of working in performance and engineering roles, Carlo Santi became the Finnish driver’s race engineer in 2018. He was also part of the team during Kimi Raikkonen’s final Formula 1 victory, famously joining the celebrations on the podium.
Before that promotion, Carlo Santi had already accumulated extensive experience in a variety of technical roles. Following the completion of his Mechanical Engineering degree, he entered motorsport as a performance engineer in endurance racing before eventually joining Ferrari as a simulation engineer during the development of the team’s early driver simulator programme.
Over the years, he worked across several departments, including vehicle dynamics, race engineering, performance analysis and simulator development. His broad technical background made him one of Ferrari’s most versatile engineering assets.
Following his period working directly at the track, Carlo Santi spent several seasons in Ferrari’s remote garage operation in Maranello, providing strategic and performance support during race weekends.
Speaking previously about his career, the Italian engineer explained that joining Ferrari had always been his ultimate professional ambition. He described the journey as challenging but deeply rewarding, noting that after many years in simulation, race engineering and performance development, he still experiences the emotional highs and lows of Formula 1 with the same passion as when he first joined the team.
Why Lewis Hamilton trusts Carlo Santi
One of the biggest challenges for any Formula 1 driver changing teams is establishing trust with a new race engineer. The relationship often determines how effectively information is exchanged under pressure and can have a direct impact on performance.
Lewis Hamilton previously enjoyed one of the most successful driver-engineer partnerships in Formula 1 history alongside Peter Bonnington at Mercedes. Together, the pair won six world championships and countless Grands Prix, creating a benchmark that few partnerships could ever hope to match.
That is why comparisons between Carlo Santi and Peter Bonnington have become increasingly significant.
Ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton explained that successful driver-engineer relationships often depend on natural chemistry. The British driver noted that he and Peter Bonnington connected immediately during their time together at Mercedes and suggested that he now sees similarities in his working relationship with Carlo Santi.
Lewis Hamilton highlighted Carlo Santi’s maturity, experience and calm approach under pressure. He also praised the technical understanding they had developed together, describing their communication as one of the strongest aspects of Ferrari’s recent progress.
The partnership appears to have continued strengthening throughout the season. After securing a podium finish at the Canadian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton revealed that he had worked closely with Carlo Santi on a different setup direction throughout the weekend.
According to Lewis Hamilton, the engineer played a major role in helping him feel comfortable with the car by carefully analysing data and implementing numerous changes requested by the driver. The seven-time world champion also credited team principal Fred Vasseur and the wider Ferrari team for supporting that process and creating an environment where he could perform at his best.
A key factor in Ferrari’s future ambitions
As Ferrari continues its pursuit of championships, the importance of strong internal relationships cannot be overstated. While much of the attention naturally falls on drivers, Formula 1 success is often built on the work carried out behind the scenes.
Carlo Santi may not attract the same headlines as Lewis Hamilton or Charles Leclerc, but his influence inside the team is becoming increasingly apparent. The improved communication, confidence and consistency shown by Lewis Hamilton over recent races have highlighted the value of a race engineer capable of translating technical information into performance on track.
With Ferrari introducing new upgrades and aiming to sustain its momentum throughout the remainder of the season, the partnership between Lewis Hamilton and Carlo Santi could become one of the defining stories of the Scuderia’s campaign.
If recent performances are any indication, Ferrari may have discovered more than just a fast car. It may have found the driver-engineer combination capable of leading Lewis Hamilton into the most successful chapter of his Ferrari adventure.
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