Lewis Hamilton Parts Ways With Key Figure at Ferrari as Verstappen Keeps Red Bull Secrets
Lewis Hamilton’s preparations for the 2026 Formula 1 season have taken an unexpected turn, with reports suggesting the seven-time world champion has ended his working relationship with a key member of his management team just months into his Ferrari era.
According to the Daily Mail, Hamilton has split from long-time manager Marc Hynes, who also serves as the chief executive of Hamilton’s personal brand venture, Project 44. The decision marks another significant change in the Briton’s inner circle as he adapts to life at Ferrari following his blockbuster move away from Mercedes.
Hamilton and Hynes share a long professional history. Their partnership began in 2015, during a dominant period of Hamilton’s career, and continued until 2021. After a brief separation, Hynes returned to Hamilton’s camp for his first season with Ferrari, a move that was widely seen as an attempt to provide stability during a major career transition. However, that reunion now appears to have been short-lived.
While neither Hamilton nor Hynes has publicly commented on the reported split, sources suggest the decision was amicable. Hamilton has previously spoken about streamlining his team and placing greater focus on his on-track performance as he targets a record-breaking eighth world championship with Ferrari. The Scuderia, meanwhile, is undergoing its own structural changes as it attempts to return to the top of Formula 1 under the sport’s sweeping 2026 regulation overhaul.
Hamilton’s Ferrari move has already attracted intense scrutiny, with every aspect of his performances, relationships, and preparation being closely monitored. Despite the managerial change, early signs from pre-season activities have been largely positive, with Hamilton appearing relaxed and integrated within the Ferrari environment, often seen joking with team-mate Charles Leclerc during promotional events.
As Hamilton reshapes his off-track setup, his main rival continues to keep his cards close to his chest.
Max Verstappen has reportedly remained tight-lipped about Red Bull’s new 2026 challenger, refusing to reveal any meaningful details following his first outing in the car. The reigning world champion sampled the RB22 for the first time during a private shakedown at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where Red Bull completed 303 laps across the test.
The Barcelona running marked an important milestone for Red Bull and its new engine partner, Ford, as the team begins life with a completely fresh power unit under the revised regulations. Reliability had been flagged as a potential concern ahead of the test, given the complexity of the new engine architecture and the reduced development time available.
However, early indications suggest Red Bull avoided any major setbacks during the shakedown. The team ran through its planned programme without significant interruptions, an encouraging sign as rivals continue to search for early weaknesses in the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
Verstappen, known for his blunt assessments, reportedly offered little insight into the car’s performance, choosing instead to keep his feedback private. That silence has only fuelled speculation within the paddock, with many believing Red Bull may once again have produced a strong baseline car ahead of the new era.
With Ferrari aiming to rebuild around Hamilton and Red Bull striving to maintain its dominance under radically different rules, the 2026 season is already shaping up to be one of the most intriguing in recent memory. Hamilton’s management reshuffle and Verstappen’s guarded approach highlight the contrasting strategies at play as Formula 1 edges closer to a full-scale reset.
As testing continues and secrets slowly emerge, the battle lines between two of the sport’s biggest names are being quietly drawn—long before the lights go out for the first race of the new era. 🏁🔥
