Lewis Hamilton's resurgence at Ferrari continued in Montreal, where a second-place finish marked his third podium in five races of the 2026 Formula 1 season. It is a stark turnaround from his debut campaign in red, which yielded zero podiums and the worst full-season points tally of his illustrious career. Now, as the Monaco Grand Prix looms, the seven‑time world champion credits a crucial off‑track change for his improved form: a new race engineer who he says reminds him of his long‑time Mercedes collaborator, Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington.
Hamilton's difficulties in 2025 were well documented. After 12 years and six drivers' titles at Mercedes, his move to Maranello presented a steep learning curve. The car was unpredictable, communication with then race engineer Riccardo Adami occasionally led to tense, confused radio exchanges, and the chemistry that had defined his success at Brackley was missing. But ahead of his second season in red, the team reshuffled its engineering support, promoting veteran Italian Carlo Santi to lead Hamilton's trackside operations on an interim basis. That decision is now paying dividends.
“It's a lot different this whole year compared to last year,” Hamilton told reporters in Monaco on Thursday. “A lot of pawns have moved, managed to move a lot of things on the chessboard, and reposition myself, I think, within the team.” The chess analogy hinted at the strategic overhaul he forced after a difficult 2025. He added that he has the “right engineers now” and that his input into the 2026 car—a machine notably stronger in slow corners—has helped shape a direction he “particularly likes.”
The driver‑engineer partnership is often the invisible bond that separates contenders from also‑rans. For Hamilton, the benchmark was always Bonnington, with whom he won 82 races and six titles, a relationship that began almost telepathically upon his arrival at Mercedes in 2013. By contrast, initial efforts with Adami, while professionally cordial, never reached that intuitive level. “I do feel like Carlo is like my Italian Bono,” Hamilton revealed, saying he even told Bonnington about the comparison. “He's a bit of an OG. He's an older guy that's been around the block. He's very calm.”
That calmness is apparently translating into clearer communication on the radio and a deeper shared understanding of car balance and setup. Hamilton described how the pair now “dissect corners into five sections” and how Santi's experience allows them to tackle handling challenges more effectively. The Italian, though appointed on a temporary remit, is now expected to stay in the role with no changes planned, according to Sky Sports News. This stability mirrors the longevity that Hamilton enjoyed with Bonnington, allowing trust to cement over time—a factor that could prove decisive as the season intensifies.
The new‑found harmony has coincided with a car that, by team admission, excels in low‑speed turns—a trait perfectly suited to the Monaco street circuit. Rivals have already made Ferrari the favourites for this weekend's race. Reigning Monaco winner Lando Norris and championship leader Kimi Antonelli both pointed to the Scuderia’s advantage on the sinuous principality layout. Mercedes has brought upgrades, and Norris himself will be a threat, but the consensus in the paddock is that the red car might have the edge, with Hamilton's teammate Charles Leclerc also carrying the memory of his emotional 2024 home win.
Hamilton, however, is refusing to engage with the hype. “I'm not listening to any of the hype,” he said, although he acknowledged: “This is probably the track that is better for us than some of the others.” He cautioned that Mercedes were “quite quick in low speed” with their recent update and stressed that power deficits on straights, which hurt them in Canada, would be less of a factor around Monte Carlo's tight confines. The Briton, a three‑time winner in the Principality, last stood atop the Monaco podium in 2019, and a fourth victory would move him within one of Ayrton Senna's record.
A strong result in Monaco would not only validate Ferrari's upward trajectory but also reignite Hamilton's hopes of an eighth world title. At 41, the Briton is still chasing the record he believed he sealed in 2021. While Antonelli leads the standings, the championship remains wide open, and a motivated, comfortable Hamilton is a formidable proposition. The pieces on his chessboard appear aligned, with Santi providing the strategic voice that once came from Bonnington.
The Montreal podium served as tangible proof of progress, but a win in Monaco—at the sport's most iconic venue—would send an emphatic message. With a car he trusts, an engineer he compares to the man who guided his greatest triumphs, and a track that masks Ferrari's power deficit, Hamilton appears ready to challenge for that top step once more. The Italian Bono may just help him rewrite another chapter of history. Based on reporting from Sky Sports.