The Ferrari Formula 1 team is showing clear signs of progress not only in terms of car performance, but also in terms of race strategy and communication from the pit wall. During the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit, the Scuderia made a bold strategic call that proved successful—thanks in large part to the work of Lewis Hamilton’s race engineer, Riccardo Adami.
Following a difficult qualifying session that saw Lewis Hamilton start from a disadvantaged position on the grid, it was evident that Ferrari needed to try something different in order to recover valuable positions in the race. The Italian team therefore opted for an alternative strategy: switching Hamilton to the medium compound tyre at a key moment in the Grand Prix. This decision ultimately paid off and showcased the growing strength of Ferrari’s pit wall operations, which have historically been one of the team’s weaker points in recent years.
A major factor behind this strategic improvement is the increasingly effective collaboration between Lewis Hamilton and his race engineer Riccardo Adami. Although the relationship between the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion and Adami had a rocky start at the beginning of the 2025 season, recent races suggest that the two are learning how to communicate more clearly and efficiently. It is a process that naturally requires time, especially when a new driver joins a team, but it is now beginning to yield positive results.
One clear sign of this progress came during the Belgian Grand Prix, where the team radio exchanges between Hamilton and Adami highlighted a more fluid and trusting communication style. These radio messages played a crucial role in convincing the British driver to make an important tyre change that helped turn his race around.
The Team Radio That Preceded the Pit Stop
The decisive phase of the race began around lap 8. At that point, Lewis Hamilton had already managed to overtake several rivals in quick succession, including Franco Colapinto, Nico Hülkenberg, and Pierre Gasly.
Riccardo Adami (RA): “Lewis, that was fantastic. Bearman is ahead by three seconds. Let me know about the track conditions when you can.”
Lewis Hamilton (LH): “The tyres are holding up well.”
Then, around lap 11, the Ferrari pit wall proposed a potential strategy change.
RA: “What do you think about pitting to switch to a new set of medium tyres?”
LH: “Impossible.”
RA: “Okay.”
LH: “We’re getting close to the crossover to slicks, but some parts of the track are still wet.”
RA: “Understood. Let’s focus on the cars ahead.”
LH: “It won’t be long. If you want to try it, I’m in.”
RA: “Box, Lewis, box.”
LH: “Maybe we should go for the mediums.”
RA: “Yes, medium tyres.”
The call was daring given the still-changing track conditions at Spa-Francorchamps, but it proved to be the right one. With this strategic move, Lewis Hamilton managed to climb from the pit lane all the way up to seventh place by the end of the race—an impressive result considering where he started.
Even more significantly, the British driver publicly acknowledged and praised the strategic choice after the race, highlighting the growing synergy between himself and Riccardo Adami. This moment marked a potential turning point in the collaboration between Hamilton and the Ferrari team, one that could yield further progress in the coming races of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
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