Formula 1
Ferrari Replaces Lewis Hamilton’s Race Engineer After Difficult Debut Season
Ferrari has confirmed a major behind-the-scenes change ahead of the 2026 Formula One season, announcing that Lewis Hamilton will work with a new race engineer following the departure of Riccardo Adami from the role. The decision comes after a turbulent first year for the seven-time world champion at the Scuderia, marked by on-track struggles and increasingly strained radio exchanges.
In a statement released on Friday, Ferrari said Riccardo Adami would move into a new position within the Ferrari Driver Academy as academy and test previous cars manager. His replacement as Lewis Hamilton’s race engineer, one of the most critical relationships in Formula 1, will be announced at a later date.
A Fractious First Season in Red
Lewis Hamilton’s long-awaited move to Ferrari in 2025 failed to deliver the fairy-tale start many fans hoped for. The car was consistently off the pace of the frontrunners, and Hamilton endured the worst season of his illustrious career. He failed to score a single podium finish, ending the year sixth in the drivers’ championship, one place behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
Throughout the season, several terse radio exchanges between Lewis Hamilton and Riccardo Adami fuelled speculation of communication issues. One of the most notable moments came in Monaco, when Lewis Hamilton asked his engineer, “Are you upset with me or something?” and appeared to receive no reply. At other races, Lewis Hamilton’s frustration with strategy calls and information relayed over the radio was clear.
Although Hamilton publicly dismissed suggestions of a poor working relationship as “BS” and described Riccardo Adami as “amazing to work with,” the tension was hard to ignore as results continued to disappoint.
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Lewis Hamilton’s Call for Change
By the end of the season, Hamilton was openly expressing his dissatisfaction. After a Q1 exit at the final race in Abu Dhabi, he described the campaign as a “nightmare” and admitted to feeling an “unbearable amount of anger and rage.” He also hinted strongly that Ferrari needed to restructure internally if progress was to be made.
“My surroundings in terms of personal personnel, team personnel… all these different things need to be looked upon,” Hamilton said, making it clear that changes were essential to optimise performance and teamwork.
Ferrari Heeds the Warning
Riccardo Adami’s reassignment away from the pit wall suggests Ferrari has listened. While the Italian engineer brings extensive experience, having previously worked with Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz, moving him sideways from such a pivotal role signals a reset in Hamilton’s environment ahead of the 2026 regulation changes.
Ferrari finished a distant fourth in the constructors’ championship, 435 points behind champions McLaren, underlining the scale of the task facing the team.
A Fresh Start for 2026
With sweeping technical regulations on the horizon, Ferrari’s decision to give Hamilton a new race engineer could prove crucial. For a driver who spent 12 years working seamlessly with Peter Bonnington at Mercedes, finding the right voice on the radio may be key to unlocking performance.
All eyes will now be on Ferrari’s next appointment, as Hamilton looks to turn the page and reignite his title ambitions in red.
