How the ‘Italian Bono’ Ignited Hamilton’s Stunning Comeback

Lewis Hamilton credits Ferrari’s race-engineering reshuffle for his 2026 upturn, highlighting new race engineer Carlo Santi—his “Italian Bono”—as the catalyst after a difficult 2025 transition.

The switch from Riccardo Adami to Santi over winter coincides with podiums in China and Canada, and a steadier baseline that better suits Hamilton’s preferences under evolving Ferrari procedures.

What changed is the human interface. Hamilton says Santi’s calm, methodical approach mirrors Peter “Bono” Bonnington’s style, sharpening feedback loops and execution during sessions and across event phases.

The improvement follows a first Ferrari season marked by adaptation pains, including frustrations around the Monaco Grand Prix, where pace and communication misfired.

Santi’s role, initially floated as a stop‑gap, now looks permanent as chemistry builds. Ferrari values continuity and the clarity it brings to set‑up direction and race‑day calls.

Hamilton frames the gains in engineering terms: cleaner correlation from simulator to track, clearer language on corner‑phase balance, and faster iteration on suspension and mechanical platform changes.

He also credits team principal Fred Vasseur for pushing structural upgrades to the engineering group, describing the current support framework as “a million times better” than last year.

That manifests as a more responsive front end and improved compliance over kerbs, helping Hamilton rotate the car without destabilising rear grip, especially in low‑to‑medium speed sequences.

Progress is clear but incomplete. Momentum aligns with Ferrari’s broader revival, yet Hamilton says aero efficiency and tyre range remain priorities.

The driver‑engineer relationship can be hit‑and‑miss; here, radio cadence and debrief specificity reduce ambiguity, enabling bolder strategy windows and more decisive set‑up swings across practice. That dynamic underpinned a recent breakthrough in confidence.

With Ferrari set to keep Santi alongside Hamilton, stability should compound as development continues through 2026, complementing results such as the China and Canada podiums. The move aligns with Hamilton’s long‑term Ferrari commitment.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.