Ferrari have announced that Lewis Hamilton will have a new race engineer this season, with Riccardo Adami moved to a different role within the team. The decision comes just seven weeks before the start of the 2026 F1 campaign.
Adami, who previously worked as race engineer for Carlos Sainz and Sebastian Vettel, failed to develop a strong working relationship with the seven-time world champion. Miscommunication between the pair was evident from the first race in Australia, with Hamilton losing patience and telling Adami, 'Leave me to it.' The struggles continued throughout the season, contributing to Hamilton's worst year in Formula 1.
The 41-year-old failed to register a single podium finish in 2025, the first time in 19 seasons he has ended a year without a top-three result. His only highlight came in the Chinese Grand Prix sprint race. Hamilton finished sixth in the drivers' championship, while teammate Charles Leclerc ended the season 86 points ahead.
Ferrari confirmed Adami's new position as Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy and Test Previous Cars Manager, stating that his 'extensive trackside experience and F1 expertise' will benefit the development of future talent. A replacement race engineer for car #44 will be announced 'in due course.'
The contrast with Hamilton's previous close bond with Peter Bonnington at Mercedes is stark. Bonnington is now race engineer for Hamilton's successor, Kimi Antonelli. Ferrari will launch their 2026 car on 23 January, with pre-season testing beginning three days later in Barcelona. The season opens with the Australian Grand Prix on 8 March.
