Lewis Hamilton, having transitioned from Mercedes to Ferrari for the 2025 Formula 1 season, began working with Riccardo Adami as his new race engineer. Despite both men possessing extensive experience in F1, their partnership has encountered early communication challenges, notably during the Monaco Grand Prix, raising questions over the dynamics within Ferrari’s garage.
The Background of Riccardo Adami
Riccardo Adami, a 51-year-old engineer from Brescia, Italy, brings decades of Formula 1 experience tied to Italian teams. His career began with Minardi in 2002, where he steadily progressed to become a race engineer by 2005. Following the transformation of Minardi into Toro Rosso under Red Bull, Adami continued to refine his expertise, working with several prominent drivers before joining Ferrari in 2015.
At Ferrari, Adami has developed into a well-respected figure, supporting top-tier drivers, and now he is undertaking the role of coordinating Hamilton’s race strategy and communications as the British driver embarks on a new chapter with the Scuderia.
Adami’s Tenure and Experience at Ferrari
Adami has spent nearly a decade at Ferrari since his arrival in 2015, applying his chassis-focused education from the University of Brescia to high-pressure race environments. His experience covers multiple evolutions of the team, contributing notably through strategic and technical support across various driver pairings.
His long-term commitment and accumulated knowledge of Ferrari’s culture and operational style mark him as one of the team’s key engineering assets. This role now involves guiding Hamilton, a seven-time World Champion, as they navigate the new partnership and its challenges.
Past Driver Collaborations with Riccardo Adami
During his stint with Toro Rosso, Adami was closely involved with Sebastian Vettel, then an emerging star, helping lay the foundation for Vettel’s later success as a four-time World Champion. Their paths reunited at Ferrari from 2015 until 2020 when Adami engineered for Vettel again at the Scuderia.
Adami also worked alongside Daniel Ricciardo at Toro Rosso before Ricciardo moved on to victory-laden years at Red Bull. More recently, Adami supported Carlos Sainz in Ferrari’s garage, contributing during the Spaniard’s four Grand Prix wins between 2021 and 2024.
With Sainz’s departure to make way for Hamilton in 2025, Adami remained as race engineer, tasked with bridging the transition for Ferrari’s new star driver.
The Full Lineup of Drivers and Their Race Engineers for F1 2025
2025 sees a diverse field across all teams, each pairing drivers with engineers who play critical roles during races via team radio communications. This season continues to highlight the intricate coordination required between drivers and engineers under intense pressure, with varying degrees of success visible throughout the grid.
Why Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington Did Not Join Hamilton at Ferrari
Hamilton’s longstanding partnership with Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington, his race engineer throughout the Mercedes years from 2013 to 2024, was widely regarded as instrumental in his multiple World Championships. Bonnington was known for his distinctive radio calls, including the iconic “Hammer Time,” signaling critical moments to push hard.
Despite anticipation, Bonnington did not accompany Hamilton to Ferrari in 2025. Instead, he accepted a promotion within Mercedes to become Head of Engineering, overseeing the integration of Hamilton’s replacement, Kimi Antonelli. This move ended the celebrated driver-engineer duo that helped secure six of Hamilton’s seven World titles.
Assessing Communication Issues Between Hamilton and Adami
The early stages of Hamilton and Adami’s relationship have been marked by visible tension and perplexing exchanges over team radio. Some moments, including terse discussions in the initial races, drew significant media attention, revealing apparent friction.
There were signs of improvement by the time of the Imola Grand Prix, where Hamilton praised Adami’s communication after finishing fourth, telling Sky Italia,
“Riccardo did a fantastic job with his communication with me”
—Lewis Hamilton
However, this progress was short-lived. At the Monaco Grand Prix, confusion peaked when Hamilton misunderstood Adami’s phrase, “this is our race,” leading to frustration during critical pit stop decisions. Hamilton also expressed dissatisfaction when Adami did not immediately clarify whether rivals ahead were still a minute clear.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur was compelled to address an off-air radio moment in which Hamilton asked Adami, “Are you upset with me?” and received silence in reply, signaling deeper communication struggles.
The difficulties appear to stem partly from a language barrier. Although Adami communicates in English on team radio, his extensive career with Italian teams means his English proficiency may be limited, which could impede nuanced dialogue under race conditions. Hamilton’s efforts to learn Italian have been noted, yet it remains unclear if they share a common language fluency optimal for swift exchanges.
Beyond language, cultural differences within Ferrari’s organizational environment may also contribute to misunderstandings. Hamilton has acknowledged Ferrari’s unique culture is unlike what he has experienced before, possibly adding complexity to their interactions.
Alternatively, it may simply be that more time is needed for their professional relationship to fully develop in the demanding context of Formula 1. As the season is less than halfway through, these early tensions might ease as familiarity grows.
Comparing Charles Leclerc’s Radio Communications Amid Ferrari’s Challenges
Alongside Hamilton, Charles Leclerc enters his seventh season with Ferrari in 2025. Leclerc’s rapport with his race engineer Bryan Bozzi has also faced moments of tension, indicating that communication difficulties are not unique to Hamilton and Adami.
In one notable instance at Imola, Leclerc openly frustrated over strategy confusion when told to pit for soft tyres but ultimately had to stay out, stating
“now we have to stay out.”
—Charles Leclerc
Despite these challenges, some exchanges have lightened the mood, such as a viral radio moment in Australia where Leclerc mentioned his seat was full of water, prompting Bozzi to reply,
“it must be the water then.”
—Bryan Bozzi
This season’s repeated instances of radio miscommunication suggest broader struggles within Ferrari’s race operations rather than isolated issues between Hamilton and Adami.
Implications of the Early Frictions in the Hamilton-Adami Partnership
The rocky start to the collaboration between Lewis Hamilton and Riccardo Adami has underscored the complexities involved in adjusting to new team dynamics, especially at a storied yet demanding outfit like Ferrari. Successful communication between driver and race engineer is essential for real-time decision-making crucial to race outcomes.
The ongoing challenges could impact Ferrari’s competitiveness this season, as clear and effective exchanges on strategy and race conditions are vital against fierce rivals like McLaren, who currently lead in the Constructors’ Championship standings.
Moving forward, how Hamilton and Adami resolve their communication issues will be a key storyline to watch. Their ability to synchronize could define not only Hamilton’s performance at Ferrari but also the team’s chances in reclaiming former glory.
