Ferrari to appoint new race engineer for Lewis Hamilton

The ‘Year of the Horse’ is galloping in with a major shake-up at Maranello, with Ferrari confirming that the partnership between Lewis Hamilton and race engineer Riccardo Adami has been terminated after just one season.

As the Scuderia pivots toward Formula 1’s radical new 2026 regulations, the seven-time champion will have a fresh voice in his ear, while the veteran Adami transitions to a strategic role molding the stars of tomorrow.

The Ferrari engineer, a mainstay of the Italian outfit’s pit wall who previously guided Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz, isn't leaving the family; instead, he’s taking his immense technical expertise to the Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA).

His new mission? Ensuring the next generation of talent hits the ground running.

In a press release disseminated on Friday, the team detailed the shift:

"Scuderia Ferrari HP announces that Riccardo Adami has moved to a new role within the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy as Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy and Test Previous Cars Manager, where his extensive trackside experience and Formula 1 expertise contributes to the development of future talent and to strengthening performance culture across the program.

"Scuderia Ferrari HP would like to thank Riccardo for his commitment and contribution to his trackside role and wishes him every success in his new position.

"The appointment of the new Race Engineer for car #44 will be announced in due course."

Radio Silence and the Chemistry Question

The move comes after a 2025 campaign that many insiders described as "turbulent."

While the duo tasted early glory with a sprint victory in China, the rest of the season was often defined by tense radio exchanges and a lack of the seamless "telepathy" Hamilton famously shared with Peter Bonnington at Mercedes.

From sarcastic "tea break" comments in Miami to blunt instructions to "leave me to it" during the heat of battle, the friction was frequently broadcast to millions.

Despite the public scrutiny, Hamilton has been quick to defend the professional respect within the garage.

Responding to suggestions of a troubled relationship after the 2025 Australian Grand Prix, he urged critics to "go and listen to the radio calls with others and their engineers, they're far worse."

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Head of Track Engineering Matteo Togninalli echoed this sentiment during the Qatar weekend, noting that “what you see from outside is worse” than the reality of their collaborative efforts.

Regardless of the past, 2026 represents a total reset. With new power units and active aerodynamics on the horizon, Ferrari’s decision to hit the "refresh" button on Hamilton’s side of the garage suggests a team determined to leave no stone unturned in the hunt for an eighth world title.

Whether they promote from within or look elsewhere to find Lewis his new "Bono," one thing is clear: the most high-profile garage in F1 is about to sound very different.

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