The news of the split between Lewis Hamilton and Riccardo Adami continues to resonate. Right decision, wrong decision—opinions vary—but one thing is clear: it was a necessary move. A choice dictated by tensions that emerged during last season.
At present, the name of the replacement is not officially confirmed, although according to Gazzetta dello Sport, Luca Diella is the leading candidate. Diella arrived in Maranello last February as Hamilton’s performance engineer. If the speculation proves true, the choice makes sense, as Diella already knows the driver and, most importantly, understands his working style.
For the upcoming F1 season, the seven-time world champion is clearly intent on turning the page, overturning his first year at Ferrari, and seeking the elements that will put him in a more competitive position.
The Hamilton-Adami split according to Martin Brundle
As mentioned, opinions on the separation between Lewis Hamilton and Riccardo Adami vary. Among these is Martin Brundle, the F1 commentator for Sky Sports UK. Speaking to Sky F1, Brundle highlighted that Lewis lacked a trusted ally at Ferrari, someone akin to Peter Bonnington during his Mercedes years.
“I think, for example, this is what Lewis terribly missed when he went to Ferrari. Someone who understands what he’s saying, what he needs, all the little nuances.” Brundle added that Hamilton needs a relationship similar to that between Michael Schumacher and Ross Brawn, or, in more recent terms, between Gianpiero Lambiase and Max Verstappen.
The comparison to Red Bull is immediate: “Whatever Max needs to do, they know he will execute it perfectly. Lambiase translates what Max wants. Max can be quite forceful about it, especially on Fridays.”
Lewis Hamilton’s need to turn the page
Brundle’s observations are widely shared. Change requires time, yes, but even more so it requires building something lasting—a true chemistry between driver and engineer.
Lewis Hamilton himself has acknowledged this in post-session interviews, stating that changes were needed not only on track but also in mindset. As reported by PlanetF1, at the conclusion of the Abu Dhabi race, Lewis explained that the first step was to understand the situation, what worked and what didn’t.
“It’s about sitting down with the team at the end of the year,” he told the media. There is a passage that perhaps explains the decision to replace Riccardo Adami: “I’ll also look internally at my personal team, away from the track, and see what we can do better to be more efficient with timings, travel, and all these things.” He concluded: “I’ll do the same with the team.”
But the question remains: who will be Hamilton’s new engineer? The answer could come near or on January 23, when the SF-26 is unveiled, or during the pre-season tests. Will the decision be solely Lewis Hamilton’s, or shared with the team? Either way, the hope is to rebuild that solid relationship, like the one he had with Bono in previous years.
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