The 2026 Formula 1 season will no longer see Riccardo Adami on the Ferrari pit wall. After working alongside highly rated drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz, 2025 marked the turn of Lewis Hamilton. Being paired with a seven-time world champion is far from straightforward, and finding the right balance to allow the British driver to perform at his best on track is even more challenging.
Beyond the disappointing performance of the SF-25, the relationship between the Brescia-born engineer and the #44 clashed far too early with a series of misunderstandings, gradually wearing down a partnership that never truly had the chance to flourish. The language barrier certainly played a role, but what ultimately made the difference – from an external perspective – was a fundamentally different vision of the work to be done both on track and back in Maranello.
Those who think it is a marginal role are making a big mistake
Anyone who believes that a race engineer has only a minor influence on a driver’s performance is seriously mistaken. Behind every great driver there is not just talent and a competitive car, but also an engineer who knows how to guide him, support him and, when necessary, even rein him in. Staying with Hamilton as an example, who does not remember the many “paranoias” that ran through his mind during his dominant Mercedes years while leading races? Engine issues, strange brake sensations… the British driver often saw problems that were not really there. Who managed to calm him down and give him the focus required to deliver his performances? Peter Bonnington. Together they built extraordinary success and, as a result, a very strong bond.
Looking at Red Bull, the Verstappen–Lambiase partnership needs no introduction or further explanation. The 2024 and 2025 seasons clearly showed just how vital and valuable that relationship has been for the Dutchman. Returning to Ferrari, do you remember the fragile relationship between Charles Leclerc and Xavi Marcos? The lack of synergy often led to costly mistakes on track, compromising several of the Monegasque’s races. With Bryan Bozzi, things have changed significantly, restoring harmony, with only a truly competitive car now missing for the #16 to beat the competition.
Hamilton–Adami: a necessary split, but who can help him bounce back?
None of what we have described above ever truly materialised between the #44 and the Italian engineer. Their team radio exchanges were often marked by monosyllabic replies, coldness and a great deal of misunderstanding. With the official end of their partnership, and Adami moving towards a managerial role within the Ferrari Driver Academy and the team’s TPC test programme, one key question now hangs in the balance: who will be Lewis Hamilton’s new race engineer?
We discussed this a few days ago in one of our articles (read here). While waiting for official confirmation, the hope for Sir Lewis is that he can find a true ally for this new season, one in which a clear change of pace is urgently needed – before it really is too late.
The decision to move Riccardo Adami into a developmental role signals Ferrari’s acknowledgment that the psychological and technical “click” between driver and engineer is as important as the car’s horsepower. Lewis Hamilton’s history proves he thrives on a specific type of communicative trust—the “Bono” style—which was noticeably absent throughout 2025. As Maranello restructures for the 2026 regulations, finding an engineer who can manage Hamilton’s mid-race anxieties and technical demands is the final piece of the puzzle for a successful Scuderia comeback.
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