Seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton has discussed the emotional and strategic challenges behind his decision to part ways with former Ferrari race engineer Riccardo Adami, admitting that not having a long-term replacement could affect his start to the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Speaking during pre-season testing in Bahrain, Hamilton described the split as far from straightforward.
After his first campaign with Scuderia Ferrari, it was confirmed that Adami would move into a role within the team’s academy. While this marks a shift in Ferrari’s structure, it also means Hamilton must adapt to a new voice on the pit wall.
“Firstly, with Riccardo it was a pretty difficult decision to make,” Hamilton said. “I’m really, really grateful for all the effort he put in last year, and his patience — it was a difficult year for us all.”
In Formula 1, the driver–race engineer relationship is often one of the most critical performance factors. Communication precision, mutual trust, and strategic instinct can determine race outcomes measured in milliseconds. Disrupting that dynamic, especially early in a season, presents both technical and psychological challenges.
Veteran engineer Carlo Santi, who previously worked with Kimi Räikkönen and operated from Ferrari’s remote garage, has stepped in to replace Adami. Hamilton indicated that the arrangement may only be temporary.
“It’s actually quite a difficult era, because it’s not long-term, the solution that I currently have — it’s only a few races,” Hamilton explained. “So early on into the season it’s going to all be switching up again and I’ll have to learn to work with someone new.”
He acknowledged that entering a new campaign without long-term continuity could be “detrimental,” particularly when drivers ideally want stability after building chemistry across multiple seasons.
The comments came during official testing at the Bahrain Grand Prix circuit, where teams fine-tune setups and operational structures ahead of the opening round of the championship.
With the 2026 season starting at the Australian Grand Prix in early March, Hamilton faces a tight timeline to solidify communication systems and race protocols with his evolving engineering team.
Still, the Briton struck a measured tone.
“It is the situation that I’m faced with, and I’ll try and do the best that I can. The team is trying to do the best they can to make it as seamless as possible.”
For Ferrari, the engineering reshuffle reflects broader efforts to optimise performance after a transitional year. For Hamilton, it is another adaptation in a career defined by reinvention.
As pre-season preparations continue, the key question is whether short-term disruption can be contained or if continuity becomes a decisive factor once the lights go out in Melbourne.
One thing remains constant: Hamilton’s focus on extracting maximum performance, regardless of circumstance.
