Lewis Hamilton Set to Work with New Race Engineer for 2026 Testing
Lewis Hamilton is set to begin the 2026 Formula 1 season working with a new race engineer, following confirmation that his partnership with Riccardo Adami has come to an end. Italian media have now revealed who will fill the role on a temporary basis during Ferrari’s upcoming pre-season test in Barcelona.
Ferrari announced last week that Hamilton and Adami would not continue working together in 2026, bringing an end to a challenging first season as a pairing. The decision followed a turbulent 2025 campaign that featured several uncomfortable exchanges over team radio, raising questions about whether the two had fully adapted to one another.
Hamilton joined Ferrari ahead of the 2025 season after over a decade with Mercedes, but the transition proved far from seamless. While expectations were high, communication issues quickly became apparent, and Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur confirmed towards the end of the year that the team would review Hamilton’s trackside personnel.
As part of the reshuffle, Adami has been reassigned within Ferrari rather than leaving the organisation. The Italian engineer will take on the role of Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy manager, while also overseeing the team’s Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) programme. Ferrari have yet to confirm a permanent replacement for Hamilton’s race engineer position.
However, according to a report from Corriere della Sera, a temporary solution has already been identified for pre-season testing. The Italian publication claims that Charles Leclerc’s long-time race engineer, Bryan Bozzi, will oversee both drivers during the five-day test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which begins on January 26.
The arrangement is reportedly driven by logistical constraints, with Ferrari expected to bring only one SF-26 chassis to the private test. As a result, Hamilton and Leclerc will share track time in the same car, necessitating a single race engineer to manage operations for both drivers.
While Bozzi’s involvement is believed to be limited to the Barcelona test, the move offers Ferrari additional time to assess longer-term options for Hamilton’s engineering setup before the competitive season begins.
Ferrari have not publicly outlined the reasons behind Adami’s removal from the role, but tensions between him and Hamilton were evident throughout the 2025 season. At the opening race in Australia, Hamilton appeared confused by the lack of detailed feedback coming from the pit wall, hinting at early communication difficulties.
Further friction emerged at the Miami Grand Prix, where Hamilton sarcastically suggested the team “have a cup of tea” after he was frustrated by the delay in allowing him past teammate Leclerc. The situation drew significant attention and was widely interpreted as a sign of growing strain between driver and engineer.
Another notable incident occurred during the Monaco Grand Prix, when Hamilton asked over the radio whether Adami was “annoyed” with him, seemingly receiving no response. Ferrari later explained that Adami had already left the pit wall at the time, attempting to play down the situation.
Even at the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi, there was another awkward exchange when Hamilton appeared to be ignored while reflecting on the year. Adami later apologised, clarifying that he had been speaking with other team members during the moment in question.
Taken together, these incidents fuelled speculation that the partnership never fully clicked, and Ferrari’s decision to restructure Hamilton’s engineering support ahead of the sweeping 2026 regulation changes appears to confirm that assessment.
As Ferrari prepare for a new era in Formula 1, all eyes will be on how Hamilton adapts with revised trackside support — starting with his first on-track outing of 2026 in Barcelona.
