Riccardo Adami is expected to continue as Lewis Hamilton’s race engineer for Ferrari during the F1 2026 season, according to fresh reports, after much speculation about possible changes to Hamilton’s support staff. The decision follows a challenging debut season for Hamilton at Ferrari in 2025, where the seven-time world champion struggled without a single podium finish.
Hamilton’s first campaign with Ferrari was marked by difficulties not only on the track but also in communication, with several awkward exchanges occurring between him and Adami over team radio. Adami has experience as race engineer for both Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz in previous years. At the close of the 2025 season, both Hamilton and team principal Fred Vasseur refrained from confirming whether Hamilton would retain his current inner circle for the upcoming year, hinting that adjustments could be considered as they strive to improve results.
As Vasseur commented on the matter recently, “We are evaluating all options.” This suggests Ferrari management remained open to revising their personnel structure ahead of the new season. Meanwhile, Hamilton, after the last race of 2025 in Abu Dhabi, acknowledged that there was a need for reflection and possible change in preparation and team dynamics as Ferrari sought to deliver better results.
Hamilton and Adami: Recent Developments Strengthen Continuity
Despite the doubts, a report from Italian outlet Auto Racer now claims that a ‘very positive’ off-track dinner between Hamilton and Adami has helped confirm Adami’s position going into 2026. The publication indicates that their renewed commitment to work together arose from honest discussions and mutual evaluation of what they could do to increase performance efficiency, particularly in areas involving travel and timing coordination within Hamilton’s support team.
Before joining Ferrari in 2025, Hamilton spent twelve successful years at Mercedes, with Peter Bonnington serving as his race engineer. The transition to Ferrari, and working alongside Adami, marked a significant change for the British driver, who had grown accustomed to a consistent engineering partnership and operating structure during his run of world championships with Mercedes at Brackley.
Ferrari’s head of track engineering, Matteo Togninalli, acknowledged the challenges facing both Hamilton and the Ferrari team following the disappointing 2025 season, noting that switching teams after so long in one environment is difficult for even the most experienced drivers. Togninalli addressed the media at the Qatar Grand Prix, emphasizing that while some external perceptions suggested problems between Hamilton and the team, he viewed matters differently:
I think the relationship with Lewis, what we are building with Lewis, is extremely positive.
— Matteo Togninalli, Ferrari Head of Track Engineering
He further explained that adapting to new routines and team cultures after a long stint with one group is a significant adjustment process, and that initial frustrations are to be expected, especially when expectations are set high and immediate results are not achieved.
Inside Team Dynamics and Ferrari’s Technical Directions for 2026
According to Togninalli, both the team and Hamilton are prepared to give themselves time to adapt and overcome the learning curve. He described the external narrative as being harsher than the reality inside Ferrari, focusing on the need for patience and constructive collaboration to build a stronger working relationship moving forward. Togninalli also stated candidly:
We are racers, he is a racer, so the frustration when we lose is massive.
— Matteo Togninalli, Ferrari Head of Track Engineering
The official launch of Ferrari’s 2026 car, codenamed Project 678, is scheduled for January 23, just days before Formula 1’s pre-season test in Barcelona. The new car will reportedly introduce a pushrod rear suspension to a Ferrari F1 car for the first time since 2010, demonstrating a clear shift in engineering approach. Red Bull is also expected to adopt a similar pushrod suspension system at both the front and rear of its 2026 challenger, indicating a trend among leading teams to rethink their chassis philosophies as F1 regulations evolve.
The Road Ahead for Hamilton, Adami, and Ferrari
Although Hamilton’s much-anticipated debut season with Ferrari fell short of expectations, both driver and team appear committed to building a more harmonious and productive partnership for 2026. The confirmation that Riccardo Adami will remain as Hamilton’s race engineer underlines the desire for stability, continuity, and further development in their collaboration. As Ferrari gears up to launch their latest car and refine their technical package, all eyes will be on whether these internal adjustments—and the preserved engineering link between Hamilton and Adami—will finally yield the results the Scuderia craves in Formula 1’s new era.
With the stakes raised and the spotlight unwavering, the Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 2026 project continues to generate anticipation, skepticism, and hope as the team aims to return to the top step of the podium and challenge for world championships once again.
