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Lewis Hamilton says he feels as though he has successfully “moved a lot on the chessboard” in his second year at Ferrari, as he hailed the influence of his race engineer in his positive start to the 2026 season.
Hamilton heads into this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix on the back of his best result for Ferrari last time out in Montreal, when he finished second. It marked his second podium finish for the team in five races, after none across 24 events in 2025.
After 13 years at Mercedes, Hamilton previously admitted it took him time to adjust to life at Ferrari, with last season proving the least successful of his illustrious F1 career.
But he believes he and the team are in a much better place together now.
“It’s a lot different this whole year compared to last year,” Hamilton said on Thursday in Monaco.
“Moved a lot of pawns, moved a lot on the chessboard, and, I think, changed myself within the group.
“We’re working very well together. I’ve got the exact engineers I need right now. They’re doing a great job.
“I think I’ve obviously had input into this year’s car and it’s going in a direction that I particularly like.
“These things take time, and I’m thankful we’re where we are, but we’ve got a lot of work ahead. It’s not a given that we’re going to be competitive wherever we go.”
In a key change ahead of his second season at Ferrari, Hamilton’s engineering team is now led by Italian race engineer Carlo Santi, who replaces Riccardo Adami.
Hamilton famously worked with Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington throughout his time at Mercedes, the pair forming the most successful driver-engineer combination in the sport’s history. In contrast, the Hamilton-Man dynamic was far less smooth, especially in team radio discussions, last season.
Kimi Antonelli, Peter Bonnington and Lewis Hamilton on stage at the Chinese Grand Prix in March
But during his five races working closely with Santi, Hamilton said he saw similarities between the 52-year-old Italian and Bonnington, who now works with championship leader Kimi Antonelli.
“The driver-engineer working together is very, very important,” Hamilton said.
“Last year Adami and I had a really good relationship. He’s a nice guy. We work relatively well together.
“I think it takes time to learn to meet the needs of a driver.
“When you’re giving feedback to an engineer, their understanding of corner balance, their understanding of all the elements that contribute to the struggle you’re having, when you try to describe what it is, your problem, corner by corner, entry, main and exit, or break it down into five categories if you will.
Ferrari engineer Carlo Santi
“Having a driver-engineer collaboration, it’s sometimes hit and miss. With me and Bono it was mostly off from the start. He had a good working relationship with Michael (Schumacher).
“I think Carlo is like my Italian Bono. I told Bono the other day! He’s a bit of an OG. He’s an older guy who’s been around the block. He’s very cool. You can hear him on the radio.
“It’s a detail that we’ve been able to go through together. Our understanding on the engineering side, I think that’s something that’s worth remembering.”
Santi’s appointment was supposed to be on an interim basis, though Sky Sports News Understands there are no plans to make any changes to the role.
Hamilton and Leclerc favorites to win Monaco?
Rival teams have spoken ahead of the event of Ferrari’s chances of winning F1’s showpiece Monaco race around the famous twisty street track this weekend, with Mercedes’ Antonelli and McLaren’s Lando Norris, both last year’s race winners, proving the Scuderia to beat.
Hamilton is a three-time winner in the Principality, while teammate Charles Leclerc won his home race in 2024 and finished second to Norris last year. Ferrari’s 2026 car has so far proven to be strong in the slow corners, of which the Monaco circuit mainly consists.
Hamilton said he was “not hearing any hype” about the team’s prospects, although agreed Monaco should be favorable to their car.
“I’d say that’s probably a track that’s better for us than anything else,” he said.
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On the F1 show, David Croft expressed his belief that Ferrari are favorites to win the next race on the streets of Monaco.
“For example, the long run we had in Montreal, we lost a lot of time. Obviously here you lose a lot less and I don’t think capacity is necessarily going to be as much of an issue.
“Our car is good at low speeds, so I think we’ll be competitive, I don’t necessarily think we’ll be the fastest especially at the last track with the Mercedes upgrade they were quite quick at low speeds.
“But I think we’ll be competitive.”
Sky Sports F1’s Monaco GP live schedule
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Martin Brundle guesses who said these iconic Monaco Grand Prix radio messages
Friday June 5
10am: F3 qualifying
12pm: Monaco GP Practice One (Session starts at 12.30pm)
2.05pm: F2 qualifying
3 pm: Team bosses’ press conference
3.30pm: Monaco GP Practice Two (Session starts at 4pm)
5.15pm: The F1 show
Saturday 6th June
9.40am: F3 sprint
11.15am: Monaco GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.15pm: Monaco GP qualifying build-up
3pm: Monaco GP Qualifying*
Sunday, June 7
6.50am: F3 Feature Race
8.30am: F2 Feature Race
10.50am: Porsche Supercup
12.30pm: Monaco GP Build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
2pm: Monaco Grand Prix*
4pm: Monaco GP Reaction: Checkered flag*
*Also on Sky Sports main events
Watch the Monaco Grand Prix, the first of six races in eight weeks, on Sky Sports F1 this weekend. Stream Sky Sports now – no contract, cancel anytime
