Hamilton Finds His 'Italian Bono' as He Prepares for Monaco GP with Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton has expressed confidence in his second year with Ferrari, likening his new race engineer, Carlo Santi, to his long-time collaborator, Peter Bonnington. Heading into the Monaco Grand Prix on June 7, Hamilton reflects on a positive start to the 2026 season, including a second-place finish in Montreal, marking his best result yet for the Scuderia. After a challenging last season, Hamilton believes that both he and the team have significantly improved. He stated, "A lot of pawns have moved, managed to move a lot of things on the chessboard, and reposition myself... We're working really well together." Santi replaced Riccardo Adami and has already made a notable impact. Hamilton commented on the importance of the driver-engineer relationship, saying, "Having that driver-engineer collab, it's hit and miss sometimes. With me and Bono, it hit off from the beginning... I do feel like Carlo is like my Italian Bono." As they prepare for Monaco, rival teams have suggested Ferrari will be a strong contender. Hamilton, a three-time winner in Monaco, acknowledged the track's suitability for their car, particularly in low-speed corners. However, he remains cautious, stating, "I don't necessarily think we'll be the quickest... But I think we'll be competitive." With the race weekend approaching, Hamilton's renewed partnership with Santi could be pivotal in Ferrari's quest for victory.
Source: Sky Sports - 2026-06-04