Ferrari have taken an important step in reshaping their Formula 1 technical structure for the 2026 season by securing an agreement with Lewis Hamilton’s next race engineer. However, despite the deal being in place, the timing of when the new engineer will actually arrive in Maranello remains uncertain, leaving the Scuderia with two significant challenges still to resolve.
Earlier in January, Ferrari confirmed that Riccardo Adami would no longer continue in his role as race engineer. Instead, the Italian engineer has been reassigned to a strategic position within Ferrari’s Formula 1 department, where he will oversee the Ferrari Driver Academy and manage the team’s Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) programme. The decision followed a difficult 2025 season, during which Adami and Lewis Hamilton struggled to establish the working relationship required at the highest level of Formula 1.
Throughout the season, communication issues emerged between Lewis Hamilton and Riccardo Adami, particularly over the team radio. Hamilton’s need for clear guidance and emotional reassurance during critical race moments was often not met, creating tension during several Grands Prix. One of the most high-profile moments came during the Miami Grand Prix, when Lewis Hamilton openly criticised Ferrari’s hesitation over team orders, accusing his race engineer of effectively disappearing during a decisive phase of the race. These incidents ultimately convinced Ferrari that a structural change was unavoidable.
Ferrari choose Cedric Michel-Grosjean as Lewis Hamilton’s new race engineer
Once Riccardo Adami’s reassignment was finalised, Ferrari immediately began evaluating potential long-term replacements. A reunion between Lewis Hamilton and Peter Bonnington was quickly ruled out, as Ferrari recognised that extracting the highly respected British engineer from Mercedes would be unrealistic. Instead, Ferrari turned their attention elsewhere and identified Cedric Michel-Grosjean as the preferred candidate to work alongside Lewis Hamilton from 2026 onward.
According to reports from Formula1.it, sources close to Ferrari have confirmed that Cedric Michel-Grosjean has already signed an agreement with the Scuderia after departing McLaren in December, following the end of the 2025 Formula 1 season. However, while the contract with Ferrari is in place, there is currently no agreement with McLaren regarding an early release from his gardening leave period.
Cedric Michel-Grosjean is said to be fully prepared to begin his new role with Ferrari as soon as contractual restrictions allow. He would even be willing to start working directly with Lewis Hamilton in time for the opening round of the 2026 Formula 1 season in Australia, scheduled for March 6–8, should McLaren grant an early release.
An interim solution while Ferrari wait for clearance
McLaren’s position is not the only complication Ferrari must manage as they attempt to put all the pieces in place for Lewis Hamilton’s second season with the team. Building an effective partnership between a driver and race engineer typically requires time, trust and extensive collaboration, something Ferrari are keenly aware of given the difficulties experienced in 2025.
As a result, Ferrari have prepared a temporary solution. Carlo Santi, an experienced engineer who previously worked closely with Kimi Räikkönen during his time at Ferrari, has agreed to step in as an interim race engineer for Lewis Hamilton. This arrangement is designed to bridge the gap until Cedric Michel-Grosjean is formally cleared to join the team.
However, Carlo Santi has reportedly made it clear that his availability is limited. He has agreed to support Lewis Hamilton for only the first three Grands Prix of the 2026 season, after which Ferrari would need to have a permanent solution in place. This tight timeline adds further pressure on the Scuderia to reach an understanding with McLaren as soon as possible.
McLaren could delay Michel-Grosjean’s arrival by several months
There remains a possibility that McLaren could enforce a prolonged gardening leave period, potentially lasting between three and six months. Given that Cedric Michel-Grosjean officially left the Woking-based team only in December, such a decision could prevent him from joining Ferrari for as many as six or seven races at the start of the 2026 campaign.
Ferrari are therefore hoping that McLaren will agree to a shorter restriction period, closer to three months. This would allow Cedric Michel-Grosjean to begin working with Lewis Hamilton from the very beginning of the season and would also align neatly with Carlo Santi’s temporary availability. An early integration would be especially valuable for Hamilton, who is aiming to rebound strongly after what is widely considered the most challenging season of his Formula 1 career.
If an agreement cannot be reached quickly, Ferrari risk starting the 2026 season with an unsettled technical structure around Lewis Hamilton, something the team will be desperate to avoid. With Charles Leclerc continuing as Ferrari’s long-term reference point and Lewis Hamilton expected to play a central role in the team’s future ambitions, resolving the race engineer situation remains a top priority in Maranello.
The coming weeks will therefore be crucial, not only in determining when Cedric Michel-Grosjean can officially join Ferrari, but also in shaping how effectively Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc can push the Scuderia forward in the new Formula 1 era.
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