Mystery surrounds Lewis Hamilton's new Ferrari race engineer

Ferrari has yet to name a permanent race engineer for Lewis Hamilton, leaving a key role vacant as the seven-time world champion integrates with the team during pre-season testing. Carlo Santi, an experienced engineer who previously worked with Kimi Räikkönen, is currently on the pit wall in Barcelona, but the Scuderia has not confirmed his appointment or clarified the communication setup with Hamilton.

Why it matters:

The race engineer is a driver's most critical strategic and technical partner during a Grand Prix weekend, responsible for real-time decisions, car setup feedback, and race strategy. For Hamilton, entering a new team after over a decade at Mercedes, establishing immediate trust and a seamless working relationship with this individual is paramount to his success and Ferrari's championship ambitions.

The Details:

• The vacancy was created when Riccardo Adami, initially confirmed for the role, was moved to a different position within the team earlier this year.
• Carlo Santi was expected to fill the role on at least a temporary basis during the Barcelona test, potentially with support from Charles Leclerc's race engineer, Bryan Bozzi.
• Ferrari is running only one car during this test, making it logistically feasible for personnel like Bozzi to assist without fully stepping away from Leclerc's side of the garage.
• Despite this, the team has provided no official confirmation on the testing arrangement or a long-term plan, deepening the uncertainty.
• Other names have been linked to the role, most notably Cedric Michel-Grosjean, a former McLaren engineer who left the team at the end of 2024.
• Any external hire would likely be subject to a period of 'gardening leave,' complicating a swift appointment before the season begins.

What's next:

Ferrari's delay in finalizing this crucial position is unusual so close to the new season. The team will need to resolve the situation quickly to ensure Hamilton has a settled engineering team ahead of the first race. All eyes will be on the driver radio during the final days of testing and at the season opener for clues about who is calling the shots on Hamilton's side of the garage.