Ferrari make move as Fans demands Lewis Hamilton’s change
Ferrari have taken an interim step to address the growing uncertainty around Lewis Hamilton’s race engineer situation, following strong reactions from fans and mounting scrutiny ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
With Formula 1 on the brink of a major regulatory overhaul in 2026, teams across the grid are preparing for one of the most significant transitions in the sport’s modern era. Changes to both the chassis and power unit regulations mean that pre-season testing will play a crucial role in shaping early performance, making continuity and clarity within teams more important than ever.
Against that backdrop, Ferrari find themselves managing an unexpected complication involving their newest superstar signing. After confirming that Riccardo Adami will no longer work as Lewis Hamilton’s race engineer in 2026, the Scuderia have yet to appoint a permanent replacement. The delay has fuelled concern among fans and pundits alike, particularly with the first on-track running of the new-generation cars now just days away.
According to reports from Italian media, Ferrari have now decided on a temporary solution for the opening test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Rather than assigning Hamilton a dedicated engineer for the private five-day test running from January 26 to January 30, Ferrari are expected to have him share engineering resources with team-mate Charles Leclerc.
The move is seen as a short-term compromise rather than a long-term fix. Charles Leclerc’s current race engineer, Bryan Bozzi, is reportedly set to oversee both drivers during the Barcelona running, allowing Ferrari to gather baseline data on the SF-26 while buying time to finalise Hamilton’s permanent setup. While unusual, the arrangement reflects Ferrari’s desire to avoid rushing a critical appointment at the risk of making the wrong call.
The Barcelona test is the first of three scheduled testing sessions ahead of the 2026 campaign. After the private shakedown in Spain, the teams will head to Bahrain for two official three-day tests, running from February 11 to 13 and again from February 18 to 20. By the time the paddock arrives in the Middle East, Ferrari are expected to have Hamilton’s long-term race engineer confirmed.
Still, the situation has sparked debate among fans, many of whom have questioned why such a high-profile driver does not yet have a settled engineering team. Hamilton’s relationship with his race engineer has historically been a cornerstone of his success, most notably during his years at Mercedes with Peter “Bono” Bonnington. Given the scale of the regulation changes and Hamilton’s ongoing adaptation to Ferrari’s systems, some supporters feel that early stability is essential.
Ferrari, however, appear determined to take a measured approach. Insiders suggest that the team wants to ensure full alignment between Hamilton, his future engineer, and Ferrari’s wider technical group before making an official announcement. With the 2026 car representing a clean-sheet design, communication style, data interpretation, and strategic philosophy will all be under the microscope.
There is also the delicate balance of managing two top-tier drivers within the same team. Sharing engineering oversight, even temporarily, could place additional demands on Leclerc’s side of the garage, but Ferrari are confident the arrangement will not compromise either driver’s programme during the limited Barcelona running. The primary objective of the test is understood to be reliability checks and system validation rather than outright performance.
For Hamilton, the situation adds another layer of intrigue to his highly anticipated Ferrari chapter. The seven-time world champion enters 2026 facing not only a new car and new regulations, but also a team still reshaping key elements of its operational structure around him. While the lack of a permanent race engineer may raise eyebrows, those close to the Briton insist he remains focused on the bigger picture and trusts Ferrari to put the right pieces in place.
As the countdown to testing continues, all eyes will be on how Ferrari manage the transition in the coming weeks. Whether the temporary Barcelona solution proves smooth or exposes further challenges, the pressure is firmly on the Scuderia to deliver clarity before the Bahrain tests begin. For now, Ferrari have made their move — even if it is only a stopgap — as the demand for change around Lewis Hamilton continues to grow.
