Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has called on the media to halt ongoing rumors regarding the identification of Lewis Hamilton’s new Formula 1 race engineer. The British driver has operated without a permanent race engineer during the pre-season following the reassignment of Riccardo Adami, his previous engineer, to another role within the team. Hamilton’s collaboration with different engineers during recent testing sessions has sparked widespread speculation, centering on who will assume the key role.
Temporary Engineering Assignments During Pre-Season Testing
Throughout the pre-season, Hamilton has worked with multiple race engineers as Ferrari trials various arrangements. During the Barcelona shakedown week, he shared engineer Bryan Bozzi, who is traditionally Charles Leclerc’s race engineer. Subsequently, at the Bahrain testing sessions last week and this week, Hamilton collaborated with Carlo Santi, formerly the engineer for Kimi Raikkonen. Hamilton himself acknowledged the challenges caused by not having a constant figure in this position, which some suggest has impacted his preparation negatively.
Positive Team Dynamics Despite Uncertainty Over Engineer Role
When questioned about Hamilton’s current engineering setup, Vasseur offered insight into the seven-time World Champion’s view, which contrasts with some external narratives. He emphasized that Hamilton’s relationship with the team, particularly on the pit wall, remains strong and constructive. Vasseur noted,
“It’s not exactly the discussion that we had,”
and further explained,
“I think the collaboration between the team and Lewis on the pit wall is very good. It’s not that he was not committed, but [is high] in confidence and very open to the relationship. My feeling is very positive with this and we will continue to improve. The mindset is to try to do a better job tomorrow than today.”
He added,
“I think that if we have areas where we can improve, I will continue to push in this direction, but Lewis is in a very good mindset.”
Vasseur Emphasizes Team Over Individual Roles Amid Growing Speculation
Pressed further about the lack of a permanent race engineer for Hamilton, Vasseur expressed clear frustration with the persistent focus on this single aspect. He urged, Please stop with this story! highlighting the routine nature of personnel changes within the Formula 1 paddock.
Vasseur pointed out that each season sees several new engineers joining the grid alongside changes in team principals. Comparing himself and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff as among the longest-serving figures, he explained that turnover happens regularly without causing disruption to teams of around 1,500 people.
Stressing the collective nature of Formula 1 operations, he said,
“In F1, it’s always about the team. It’s never about an individual.”
Implications of the Ongoing Engineer Situation for Hamilton and Ferrari
The debate surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s race engineer appointment highlights the heightened scrutiny faced by Ferrari and its drivers during this pre-season period. Although Hamilton’s temporary engineering arrangements reflect an unusual situation, Vasseur’s remarks underline the deeper strength and resilience of the team’s structure beyond individual roles. As Ferrari and Hamilton gear up for the forthcoming races, stabilizing the race engineer position will likely be a priority to support optimum performance. Meanwhile, the insistence on a team-focused approach aims to shift the narrative away from individual changes toward collective success on and off the track.
