Maranello, January 16, 2026 — Ferrari has reassigned Riccardo Adami, Lewis Hamilton’s race engineer during the 2025 Formula One season, to a new position within the team, following months of speculation about communication issues between the seven-time world champion and his engineer.

Adami will now take on the role of manager of the Ferrari Driver Academy, in addition to overseeing the team’s Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) programme, a key pathway for developing young talent under Formula One’s strict testing regulations.

Ferrari confirmed the change in a brief statement, adding that the appointment of a new race engineer for car number 44 will be announced at a later date. The team did not mention Hamilton by name.

Change Follows Scrutiny of Hamilton–Adami Communication

The move comes after a challenging debut season for Hamilton at Ferrari, during which repeated team radio exchanges drew attention and fuelled speculation about a strained working relationship between the driver and his engineer.

Hamilton consistently dismissed suggestions of internal tension throughout the 2025 campaign, insisting publicly that his relationship with Adami was positive. However, several radio conversations broadcast during races were widely interpreted as awkward or tense.

The relationship between a Formula One driver and race engineer is among the most critical in the sport. The engineer serves as the driver’s primary voice on the pit wall, guiding strategy, car setup changes, and race management — while often acting as a confidant during high-pressure moments.

Contrast With Hamilton’s Mercedes Era

Before joining Ferrari, Hamilton worked exclusively with Peter Bonnington at Mercedes for all 12 years of his time with the team. Their partnership yielded six world championships and is regarded as one of the most successful driver-engineer relationships in Formula One history.

Hamilton, who turned 41 during the 2025 season, acknowledged multiple times that his first year at Ferrari had been difficult. He repeatedly suggested that changes were required within the organisation, without publicly specifying whether those related to personnel, operations, or communication structures.

Ferrari Highlights Adami’s Experience

Ferrari praised Adami’s technical background and experience in its statement, saying his expertise would be valuable in shaping future talent and reinforcing performance standards.

“His extensive trackside experience and Formula One expertise contribute to the development of future talent and to strengthening performance culture across the programme,” the team said.

Testing of Previous Cars programmes have grown increasingly important as Formula One limits in-season testing of current machinery. These programmes allow young drivers to gain meaningful mileage and race simulation experience using older cars.

On-Track Results Favoured Leclerc

Hamilton was outperformed by team-mate Charles Leclerc across the 2025 season. The Briton finished one place and 84 points behind the Monegasque in the drivers’ championship.

In qualifying, Leclerc held a decisive edge, beating Hamilton 22 times to seven, with an average advantage of 0.15 seconds per lap. Leclerc’s average grid position stood at 5.6, compared to Hamilton’s 9.5.

Hamilton endured a particularly difficult end to the season, being eliminated in the first segment of qualifying in the final three races.

Abu Dhabi Radio Exchange Highlighted Tensions

At the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, one radio exchange drew widespread attention. When Adami informed Hamilton of the identity of the car ahead, Hamilton responded sharply.

“Stop telling me I’m racing people,” Hamilton said. “I know I’m racing him. Just leave me to it. I’m racing everyone ahead of me.”

While not unusual in isolation, the exchange was seen by many as emblematic of a season-long communication disconnect.

Adami’s History With Ferrari Drivers

Adami previously worked with Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz during his time at Ferrari. His partnership with Vettel was at times strained, particularly during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, when Ferrari’s title challenges unraveled amid strategic errors and operational mistakes.

Sainz also questioned Ferrari’s race strategies on several occasions during his four-year stint with the team.

Looking Ahead to 2026

Ferrari’s decision to move Adami into a developmental role suggests a reset ahead of the 2026 season, as the team prepares for major technical regulation changes and looks to maximise Hamilton’s remaining years at the top level.

With a new race engineer yet to be named, attention will now turn to whether Ferrari can provide Hamilton with the clarity, consistency, and support required to challenge at the front once again.