Formula 1
Who Is Carlo Santi? Lewis Hamilton’s New Ferrari Race Engineer Explained
Carlo Santi’s most prominent trackside role came in 2018, when he was promoted to Kimi Raikkonen’s race engineer. While the partnership lasted only one season, it produced one of Ferrari’s most iconic radio moments — the infamous “you will not have the drink” message during the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton will head into the all-important 2026 Formula 1 preseason with a new voice in his ear. Ahead of the Barcelona preseason test, Ferrari has confirmed that Italian race engineer Carlo Santi will serve as Hamilton’s interim race engineer, following the departure of Riccardo Adami from the role.
The decision comes at a pivotal moment for both Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari, as the Scuderia seeks to reset after a disappointing 2025 campaign in which Hamilton finished the season without a single podium.
Why Ferrari Changed Hamilton’s Race Engineer
Lewis Hamilton’s working relationship with Riccardo Adami, formerly Carlos Sainz’s race engineer, came under scrutiny almost immediately after the seven-time world champion joined Ferrari. Despite Riccardo Adami’s experience, the partnership failed to gel, leading Ferrari to reassign the Italian engineer to a role within the team’s junior program ahead of the 2026 season.
With preseason testing in Barcelona looming and no permanent replacement yet finalised, Ferrari opted for an internal solution, turning to one of its most experienced engineers, Carlo Santi.
Who Is Carlo Santi?
Carlo Santi is a familiar name within Ferrari’s Formula 1 operation, having spent over 15 years with the team. A graduate in mechanical engineering with a specialisation in land vehicles from the Polytechnic University of Milan, Carlo Santi began his career after earning a scholarship to work at the FIAT Research Centre in Turin, before joining its vehicle dynamics department.
His motorsport journey included time in endurance racing as a performance engineer, before joining Scuderia Ferrari in 2010. Santi played a key role in developing Ferrari’s first advanced driving simulator as a model engineer, laying the groundwork for the team’s modern simulation programs.
Ferrari Launch SF-26 as Lewis Hamilton Leads Charge Into F1’s New Era
From Raikkonen’s Engineer to Hamilton’s Interim Guide
Carlo Santi’s most prominent trackside role came in 2018, when he was promoted to Kimi Raikkonen’s race engineer. While the partnership lasted only one season, it produced one of Ferrari’s most iconic radio moments — the infamous “you will not have the drink” message during the Hungarian Grand Prix.
After Kimi Raikkonen’s departure, Carlo Santi returned to a factory-based role as a performance engineer, typically working remotely from Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters. Now 51, he will temporarily return to the pit wall in Barcelona to support Hamilton during preseason testing.
What’s Next for Hamilton and Ferrari?
Carlo Santi’s appointment is strictly interim. For the Barcelona test, he will work alongside Bryan Bozzi, a key member of Charles Leclerc’s engineering team. Ferrari is still actively seeking a long-term race engineer for Lewis Hamilton, with reports suggesting the team may try to lure a candidate from McLaren.
The stakes could not be higher. Team principal Fred Vasseur and technical leadership are under intense pressure to deliver a competitive SF-26 under the new regulations. Lewis Hamilton, now 41 and entering the final year of his Ferrari contract, also faces an uncertain future if results do not improve.
For now, all eyes are on Barcelona — and on whether Carlo Santi can help steady Ferrari’s most high-profile driver at a defining moment.
