Lewis Hamilton Says Carlo Santi Reignited His Love for F1

Lewis Hamilton has revealed that his new working relationship with race engineer Carlo Santi has reignited his love of being a Formula 1 driver. Hamilton made the admission after claiming his first victory for Ferrari at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, where Santi joined him on the top step of the podium.

The Barcelona victory represented an important moment in Hamilton's adaptation to Ferrari. Beyond ending his wait for a first win with the Maranello team, the result highlighted the development of a much stronger connection between driver and engineer. Santi has been serving as Hamilton's stand-in race engineer this season but has established an effective working relationship within a relatively short period.

Immediate Connection Transforms Ferrari Communication

Hamilton explained that the pair had never spoken before beginning their work together. Despite that lack of familiarity, communication developed naturally from their first meeting. That relationship is crucial because the race engineer acts as the primary link between the driver and the pit wall, delivering information on strategy, tyre condition, car settings, and changing race circumstances.

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"He has been substituting this year, jumping in and diving in deep with me," Hamilton said. "We didn't know each other, we had never spoken, and I didn't know anything about him. We met and got on straight away. It is great to be able to connect with an engineer other than what I used to have."

Hamilton was referring to his long-standing partnership with Peter Bonnington during his 12 seasons at Mercedes. Their collaboration became one of the most established driver-engineer relationships in modern Formula 1. Bonnington now works with Kimi Antonelli, requiring Hamilton to build a new communication structure after joining Ferrari.

Santi Restores Hamilton's Confidence in the Cockpit

Hamilton's connection with Santi also marks a significant change following a difficult 2025 campaign with Riccardo Adami. Several radio exchanges during that season exposed inconsistencies in the communication between Hamilton and the pit wall. In Formula 1, delayed or unclear information can directly affect strategy calls, energy management, and the driver's response to changing track conditions.

Santi, previously Ferrari's head of remote engineering, has provided information in a way that appears better aligned with Hamilton's requirements. Although naturally quiet and reserved, he has built trust through precise communication. Hamilton has already referred to him as the "Italian Bono", drawing a comparison with the relationship he previously shared with Bonnington.

"It was really great to share that experience with him on that stage," Hamilton said. "He is very quiet and you can tell it is hard for him to express his emotions. He is just smiley, while I am giving him these big hugs, pulling him in, and saying thank you."

Hamilton believes the success in Barcelona has also had an emotional impact on Santi. "I like to think that this has probably reignited the love he has for being an engineer, as he has done for me as a driver," he added. With their working relationship continuing to strengthen, Hamilton and Ferrari now possess a more stable communication platform as they attempt to carry their momentum into the next round.