Hamilton's potential new Ferrari race engineer revealed

Cédric Michel-Grosjean, a former McLaren performance engineer, has joined Ferrari and is a leading candidate to become Lewis Hamilton's new race engineer. The Frenchman is currently integrating into the team, with the timing of any potential role change from current engineer Carlo Santi remaining undecided.

Why it matters:

The driver-race engineer relationship is one of the most critical partnerships in Formula 1, directly impacting performance through strategy and communication. For Hamilton, joining a new team for the first time in his career, establishing a strong, trusted link on the pit wall is paramount. Ferrari's deliberate, measured approach to this appointment signals they are prioritizing a long-term fit over a rushed solution for their new superstar signing.

The details:

• The Candidate: Cédric Michel-Grosjean previously served as Lead Trackside Performance Engineer at McLaren, where he worked closely with drivers including Oscar Piastri. He left the British team at the end of 2023.
• Current Status: Michel-Grosjean has already commenced work at Ferrari, focusing on learning the team's systems and processes. For now, Carlo Santi remains Hamilton's race engineer, a role he assumed after Riccardo Adami's departure.
• Ferrari's Deliberate Process: The team has been evaluating options for Hamilton's engineer since before the season. During pre-season testing, Santi worked with potential support from Charles Leclerc's engineer, Bryan Bozzi, indicating the search was ongoing.
• No Interim Label: Team leadership has emphasized that Santi's position is not viewed as a temporary stopgap, but as Hamilton's legitimate current engineer, providing stability while a final decision is made.

What's next:

All eyes are on when, or if, a handover will occur. A mid-season switch is a possibility, but Ferrari is unlikely to force the change until Michel-Grosjean is fully acclimated and the team is confident the transition would be seamless.

• The situation underscores Ferrari's methodical planning for the Hamilton era, ensuring every element, especially one as crucial as the race engineer, is carefully curated.
• Hamilton's performance and feedback will be key factors, as the seven-time champion adjusts to a new car, team, and operational style in 2025.