Scuderia Ferrari has taken decisive action ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season, removing Riccardo Adami as Lewis Hamilton's race engineer following a deeply troubled debut campaign for the seven-time world champion with the Italian team.
A Relationship That Never Gelled
The partnership between Hamilton and Adami was marked by persistent difficulties and public miscommunication over team radio. The issues were evident from the very first race of the 2025 season in Australia, where a frustrated Hamilton was heard telling Adami, "Leave me to it." This strained dynamic continued throughout what Hamilton himself later described as "the worst season ever."
Hamilton, now 41, failed to secure a single podium finish for the first time in his 19-season F1 career, with his only highlight being a sprint race victory in China. He finished a distant sixth in the drivers' championship, a staggering 86 points behind his teammate Charles Leclerc.
Adami's New Role Within Ferrari
In an official statement released on Friday, 16 January 2026, Ferrari confirmed that Italian engineer Riccardo Adami has moved to a new position. He will now serve as the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy and Test Previous Cars (TPC) Programme Manager.
The team stated that his extensive trackside experience will be directed towards developing future talent and strengthening the performance culture within the academy. Ferrari thanked Adami for his commitment in his previous trackside role and wished him success in his new position.
Search for a New Voice on the Radio
Ferrari has confirmed that the appointment of a new race engineer for car #44, driven by Hamilton, will be announced "in due course." This change severs Hamilton's working link with Adami, who previously served as race engineer for Carlos Sainz and Sebastian Vettel during his time with the Scuderia.
The breakdown in communication stood in stark contrast to the famously successful and close partnership Hamilton enjoyed with Peter Bonnington at Mercedes, with whom he won all six of his world titles with the Silver Arrows. Bonnington is now the race engineer for Hamilton's Mercedes replacement, Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli.
The Road Ahead for Hamilton and Ferrari
This significant personnel shift comes at a critical juncture. Ferrari will launch its 2026 challenger on Friday, 23 January, with pre-season testing in Barcelona commencing just three days later. The season opener, the Australian Grand Prix, is scheduled for 8 March.
All eyes will be on whether a new engineering partnership can help reverse the fortunes of the sport's most decorated driver and one of its most legendary teams, as they seek to rebuild from a season both will be keen to forget.
