Lewis Hamilton has addressed the recent decision to part ways with his former race engineer, Riccardo Adami, as he prepares for the 2026 Formula 1 season. The British driver explained that such personnel changes are common within teams and acknowledged that adjusting to a new race engineer presents a significant challenge moving forward.
Hamilton’s first season with Ferrari was difficult, ending with a sixth-place finish in the drivers’ championship and no podium appearances. Much attention focused on the complicated working relationship between Hamilton and Adami, which some felt impacted performance. Amid speculation about communication issues, Ferrari chose to replace Adami during the offseason.
Speaking publicly for the first time about this change, Hamilton praised Adami’s professionalism and dedication despite the tough year.
“Working with Riccardo Adami was truly wonderful. Last year was a very tough one for all of us, and his patience and work discipline were incredible,” said Hamilton.
“For a race driver, the bond with his engineer is absolutely critical. Having to make such a change at the start of the season and adjust to someone new, a new voice, a new working style is, of course, a challenge,” he added.
Hamilton emphasized that drivers ideally prefer to maintain long-term collaboration with their teams, especially those who have faced difficulties together. Still, he recognized that rotations happen regularly at the highest level of the sport. His current focus is on forging a strong connection with his new race engineer and the team around him.
Insights from Ferrari’s First Bahrain Pre-Season Test
At the Bahrain International Circuit during the preseason testing, Hamilton discussed Ferrari’s strategic approach for preparing the car. He revealed that Ferrari is concentrating on evaluating multiple components simultaneously, including setup configurations, tire performance, aerodynamic features, ride height, and the mechanical balance of the car.
Hamilton shared his impressions of the session while speaking with the media on site.
“We’re working on the basic setup; we’re testing the tires, the aero package, the ride height, and the mechanical balance. I didn’t feel great out there today because of the wind, but overall, driving these cars is more fun,” said Hamilton.
During the morning session of the Bahrain test, Hamilton posted the fourth fastest lap time, recording a personal best of 1:36.433. After his stint, he handed driving duties over to his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, who completed the afternoon session.
Implications of Hamilton’s Engineer Change and Ferrari’s Testing Strategy
The transition to a new race engineer marks a pivotal moment for Hamilton as he adapts to new communication styles ahead of the 2026 campaign. Such adjustments can have a meaningful impact on driver performance and race outcomes, especially within a fiercely competitive team environment like Ferrari. Hamilton’s willingness to acknowledge this challenge and commit to building fresh working relationships signals a pragmatic mindset as he aims to improve on last season’s results.
The comprehensive testing program underway in Bahrain illustrates Ferrari’s commitment to optimizing their 2026 car across all areas. Hamilton’s feedback during these sessions will be essential in refining the vehicle to better suit his driving preferences and extract maximum performance. The progress made in the coming weeks is likely to shape Ferrari’s competitiveness early in the next season.
Hamilton: “Riccardo Adami ile çalışmak gerçekten harikaydı. Geçen yıl hepimiz için çok zor bir yıldı ve onun sabrı, çalışma disiplini muazzamdı. Bir yarış pilotu için mühendisiyle arasındaki bağ çok kritiktir. Sezonun başında böyle bir değişiklik olması ve yeni birine, yeni bir… pic.twitter.com/Bhru4iu4sv
— Kemal Şengül (@KemalSengulll) February 11, 2026
Hamilton: “Hala temel ayarlar üzerindeyiz; lastikleri, aero paketini, sürüş yüksekliğini ve mekanik dengeyi test ediyoruz. Bugün rüzgar nedeniyle dışarıda harika hissetmedim ama genel olarak bu araçları sürmek daha eğlenceli.” pic.twitter.com/kNedxdHOXW
— Kemal Şengül (@KemalSengulll) February 11, 2026
