Lewis Hamilton is preparing for a crucial reset ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 campaign, and a major part of that process involves a complete change on the pit wall. Ferrari are finalising the appointment of a new race engineer for the seven-time world champion, a move that underlines just how seriously the Scuderia are treating the new technical era.
During the 2025 campaign, Lewis Hamilton worked alongside Riccardo Adami, an experienced engineer who had previously partnered Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz. Despite Adami’s pedigree, the collaboration never truly clicked. Throughout the season, multiple radio exchanges revealed a lack of harmony, culminating in a tense moment late in the year that made it clear the working relationship was not sustainable long term. As Ferrari reshuffle their internal structure for 2026, Riccardo Adami has been reassigned to a different role, leaving Lewis Hamilton in need of a fresh voice on the radio.
Ferrari’s management in Maranello have spent recent months evaluating a wide pool of candidates, both within the team and from rival outfits. Luca Diella, who worked closely with Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes between 2019 and 2024 before following him to Ferrari, was among the names discussed internally. At the same time, Charles Leclerc’s long-time race engineer Bryan Bozzi is expected to work temporarily with Lewis Hamilton during parts of pre-season testing, particularly while Ferrari alternate running a single car at certain sessions.
However, all signs now point towards a bold external hire that would represent a significant gamble for the Italian team.
Ferrari close in on Cedric-Michel Grosjean as Lewis Hamilton’s new race engineer
According to growing reports within the Formula 1 paddock, Cedric-Michel Grosjean is set to join Ferrari and become Lewis Hamilton’s race engineer for the 2026 season. The French engineer recently departed McLaren after working on Oscar Piastri’s side of the garage and is regarded internally as one of the most promising technical figures of his generation.
Journalist Craig Slater has indicated that Cedric-Michel Grosjean is effectively “Ferrari-bound”, suggesting that discussions are already well advanced. While Grosjean did not serve as a race engineer during his time at McLaren, his reputation was built on his ability to interpret data, communicate clearly with drivers, and translate complex information into actionable performance gains. His bilingual background and fluency in English are also seen as key strengths in a multinational environment like Ferrari.
Ferrari appear to believe that Cedric-Michel Grosjean’s role in helping Oscar Piastri extract maximum performance from the car during the 2025 season highlights his potential. Internally, the Scuderia view him as an engineer on a steep upward trajectory, capable of growing into one of the most influential pit wall figures in the sport. Handing him responsibility for Lewis Hamilton, however, would represent a major leap of faith.
If confirmed, the appointment would mark Grosjean’s first experience as a full-time Formula 1 race engineer, making the challenge even greater given the pressure that comes with working at Ferrari and supporting a seven-time world champion.
High stakes for Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari under the 2026 F1 regulations
Lewis Hamilton enters the 2026 championship with enormous motivation. His first year at Ferrari proved to be one of the most difficult campaigns of his career, as he failed to score a podium across an entire season for the first time. The combination of an underperforming car, unfamiliar team dynamics, and growing external scrutiny placed the Briton under intense pressure.
The arrival of new technical regulations, combined with a complete reset in his working environment, could be exactly what Lewis Hamilton needs to reignite his title ambitions. Ferrari are hoping that a new race engineer-driver relationship, built from the ground up around the SF-26, will allow Hamilton to feel more comfortable, more confident, and more influential in shaping the car’s development direction.
Over the winter, Lewis Hamilton has spent extended periods at Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters, immersing himself in simulator work and technical meetings. This hands-on approach echoes the habits once adopted by Michael Schumacher and has been interpreted as a clear sign of renewed commitment and determination ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
At the same time, expectations remain realistic. The Briton has privately acknowledged that the upcoming campaign will represent a massive challenge, with the new regulations expected to dramatically reshape the competitive order. Ferrari must deliver a genuinely competitive package, while Hamilton must prove that he can still operate at the very highest level.
The decision to potentially entrust Lewis Hamilton to an inexperienced but highly rated race engineer highlights Ferrari’s willingness to take calculated risks. Whether this gamble pays off could define not only Hamilton’s future, but also Ferrari’s prospects in the first season of Formula 1’s next technical era.
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