P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lewis Hamilton thinks he has found his “Italian Bono” in race engineer Carlo Santi, as he pinpointed a backroom shake-up as a key factor that has lifted his performance in F1 this year
Lewis Hamilton credits his improved performance in Formula 1 this year to a backroom shake-up, pinpointing his race engineer Carlo Santi as his “Italian Bono.”
After leaving Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025, Hamilton struggled in his first season with the team, facing tension at times, notably during the Monaco Grand Prix.
A change in race engineer from Riccardo Adami to Santi contributed to Hamilton’s improved results, securing two podium finishes in 2026.
The successful collaboration between Hamilton and Santi is set to continue, reflecting the importance of a strong driver-engineer relationship in Formula 1.
Hamilton likened his relationship with Santi to the one he had with his long-term Mercedes engineer, showing appreciation for the improvements engineered by Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur.
