One of many first key questions for Ferrari forward of the 2026 Formulation 1 season involved the race engineer assigned to Lewis Hamilton. It now seems that the Scuderia has reached a transparent and strategic determination.
The beginning of the 2026 season brings vital modifications at Ferrari, notably contained in the storage on Lewis Hamilton’s facet of the pit wall. After weeks of hypothesis, rumors and paddock whispers, the Maranello-based group appears to have chosen Carlo Santi because the race engineer for the seven-time world champion, not just for pre-season testing however for extra than simply an interim interval. It’s a determination that indicators a robust dedication to technical continuity and to constructing the appropriate working relationship with the brand new arrival in pink.
Ferrari chooses stability with Carlo Santi
Following the departure of Riccardo Adami, who moved into a brand new place throughout the Ferrari Driver Academy, many believed Ferrari had opted for a brief answer restricted to winter testing. As an alternative, Carlo Santi has successfully turn out to be the first reference level for Lewis Hamilton, each throughout the Barcelona shakedown and all through the official pre-season exams in Bahrain.
Initially, there was a widespread perception within the paddock that Santi’s function could be short-term, designed solely to cowl the early transitional part. Nonetheless, in accordance with experiences from GPblog, Ferrari has determined to proceed with Carlo Santi a minimum of for the opening rounds of the 2026 championship, beginning with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. The group’s intention is to guage the collaboration rigorously and methodically earlier than making any long-term or definitive selections.
This method displays a broader strategic mindset inside Ferrari. Somewhat than speeding into one other structural change at a fragile second, the Scuderia seems decided to prioritize operational stability. In trendy Formulation 1, the place communication, information evaluation and real-time decision-making are extra complicated than ever, preserving continuity might be simply as essential as introducing technical upgrades to the automobile itself.
The chemistry with Lewis Hamilton shall be decisive
It’s not but assured that Carlo Santi will stay Lewis Hamilton’s race engineer for your entire 2026 season. However, the early indicators rising from testing are mentioned to be encouraging. The Briton had reportedly expressed considerations in regards to the thought of fixing race engineer once more after solely a handful of races, emphasizing how essential it’s to construct a strong and trusting skilled relationship.
“It’s important to construct a robust connection,” Lewis Hamilton had beforehand underlined when discussing the significance of working carefully along with his race engineer. For a driver of his expertise and pedigree, readability of communication and mutual understanding on the radio can straight affect efficiency, technique calls and finally race outcomes.
If the optimistic feeling between Lewis Hamilton and Carlo Santi continues to develop within the opening races, Ferrari may have little cause to intervene as soon as extra. Stability within the cockpit-to-pit wall dialogue can translate into extra exact suggestions, sharper setup changes and improved race execution over a Grand Prix weekend.
In current months, a number of names had been linked as potential everlasting replacements following Riccardo Adami’s change of function, but no official announcement was ever made. This absence of affirmation additional strengthens the concept Ferrari intends to put its belief in Santi, a minimum of for this significant early part of the 2026 Formulation 1 marketing campaign.
A lot will depend upon on-track outcomes and on the evolving understanding between driver and engineer. In Formulation 1, the communication loop between the storage and the steering wheel might be as decisive because the outright efficiency of the automobile. Technique execution, tire administration, vitality deployment and even small changes in braking steadiness can hinge on clear and instant dialogue. For Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton, getting this partnership proper may show simply as essential because the competitiveness of the 2026 automobile itself.
Feb 22, 2026
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