Ferrari has made a significant change for Lewis Hamilton ahead of the new Formula One season. The seven-time world champion will work with a different race engineer for radio communications during races. This decision follows a challenging 2025 campaign for the British driver at Ferrari.
Riccardo Adami Moves to New Role Within Ferrari
The Italian team confirmed that Riccardo Adami, who served as Hamilton's race engineer last season, will now take on a different position. Adami transitions to the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy. His new responsibilities include managing test runs in older F1 cars and helping develop young talent.
Ferrari released an official statement about the change. It thanked Adami for his trackside contributions and wished him success in his new role. The team also noted that an announcement regarding the new race engineer for car number 44 will come at a later date.
A Season of Frustration and Public Tension
The 2025 season proved difficult for Lewis Hamilton. He did not finish on the podium in any Grand Prix throughout the year. This marked the first time in his entire career that he failed to secure at least one podium finish in a season.
Radio conversations between Hamilton and Adami often became tense and made headlines. These exchanges highlighted the frustrations during races. The strained communication coincided with Hamilton's disappointing results in his first season with Ferrari after his high-profile move from Mercedes.
Several incidents during the season illustrated the communication issues. At the Australian Grand Prix, Hamilton told Adami to "leave me to it," feeling distracted by unnecessary information. During the Miami Grand Prix, Hamilton sarcastically asked if the team was taking a "tea break" while waiting for a strategy decision. In Monaco, Hamilton questioned whether Adami was upset with him, seemingly receiving no reply.
The Critical Role of a Race Engineer
Race engineers play a vital role in Formula One. They are the primary point of contact for drivers during a race. Engineers relay crucial information about race incidents, car setup adjustments, and team strategy directly to the driver via radio.
Adami brought considerable experience to the role. He previously worked as race engineer for other Ferrari drivers, including Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz. His move to the driver academy allows Ferrari to utilize his expertise in a different capacity.
Looking Ahead to a Fresh Start
The change comes just before preseason testing begins this month. Ferrari hopes a new voice on the radio will help improve communication and performance. For Hamilton, the 2026 season represents an opportunity to reset and chase better results with the iconic team.
The entire Formula One world will watch closely. They want to see if this engineering shift can help one of the sport's greatest champions return to the podium with Ferrari.
