Meet Carlo Santi: The 'Italian Bono' Giving Hamilton a Winning Edge at Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton's recent return to the top of the podium at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix was a significant moment for both the driver and Ferrari. After a challenging debut season with the team in 2025, Hamilton seems to have found his groove, thanks in no small part to his new race engineer, Carlo Santi.

Carlo Santi, a seasoned Ferrari veteran, has been instrumental in Hamilton's recent success. Born in Verona, Santi has been with Ferrari for over a decade, starting his journey in the Formula 1 team by working with Kimi Raikkonen. He was Raikkonen's race engineer during the Finn's triumphant 2018 United States Grand Prix win, which marked Raikkonen's final F1 victory.

Santi's career path to Ferrari wasn't straightforward. After graduating in Mechanical Engineering from the Milan Polytechnic, he worked at the FIAT Research Centre and later joined an endurance racing team. His journey with Ferrari began as a model engineer for their driving simulator, eventually leading to roles in race engineering and vehicle performance.

Hamilton's first season with Ferrari was far from smooth. Teaming up with race engineer Riccardo Adami, he struggled to adapt to the SF-25. Determined to turn things around for 2026, Hamilton opted for a change, bringing in Santi to fill the role temporarily. The partnership has since blossomed, with Hamilton securing a win and two podium finishes in recent races.

Hamilton has likened Santi to his former Mercedes race engineer, Peter 'Bono' Bonnington. The comparison stems from the strong rapport and mutual understanding Hamilton shares with Santi, reminiscent of the successful partnership he enjoyed with Bonnington, which yielded six Drivers' titles.

"Carlo is like my 'Italian Bono'," Hamilton remarked, highlighting Santi's experience and composure. Santi's ability to interpret and act on Hamilton's feedback has been crucial in optimizing the car's performance, a skill Hamilton deeply values.

Currently, Hamilton trails Kimi Antonelli by 41 points in the championship standings. As the season progresses, the dynamic between Hamilton and Santi could prove vital in narrowing that gap. Hamilton's recent praise for Santi underlines the positive impact of their collaboration.

"Working with Carlo has been fantastic," Hamilton noted after securing a second-place finish in Canada. "He's helped me unlock more potential in the car, and Fred Vasseur has supported our efforts every step of the way."

Whether the partnership will lead to more victories remains to be seen, but for now, Hamilton and his 'Italian Bono' are clearly on a promising path with Ferrari.