The key qualities a driver needs in a race engineer

F1 TV analyst and IndyCar winner James Hinchcliffe shed light on the critical driver-race engineer relationship in F1. Citing successful pairings like Max Verstappen and Gianpiero Lambiase at Red Bull, and Lando Norris and Will Joseph at McLaren, Hinchcliffe emphasized the profound impact of this bond on performance. He noted the challenges faced by Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, where his partnership with Riccardo Adami recently concluded. Hinchcliffe highlighted the essential qualities drivers seek in their ideal race engineer, underscoring communication, trust, and a shared understanding as paramount for on-track success. This insight arrives as teams continually optimize their internal dynamics for competitive advantage.