The historic Ferrari team has begun its journey into the new regulatory era in what appears to be the worst possible way. The cars have not even been officially unveiled yet, and there is already a widespread feeling that the 2026 season of the Prancing Horse could prove deeply disappointing. The problem, however, is not what is being said.
Unlike previous years, Ferrari’s senior management and technical staff in Maranello have been remarkably effective at preventing any information about the potential performance of the SF-26 from leaking out. No bold claims, no flights of fancy and no false expectations.
For a long time, Ferrari had been urged to keep its feet firmly on the ground. The trouble is that this time the team may have gone too far in that direction. Rather than being solidly planted, those feet now seem almost buried beneath the surface. You might think this is an exaggeration, but unfortunately the issue goes deeper. Beyond the complete lack of concrete signs pointing towards a positive campaign for the Scuderia, what truly fuels pessimism is the ongoing sequence of departures and continuous role changes within the Gestione Sportiva.
Warning signs already in 2025
The departures that caused the biggest stir undoubtedly came last year. Two highly significant figures left Maranello: Wolf Zimmermann and Lars Schmidt, both power unit specialists who moved to Audi. Their exits were soon followed by that of Simone Resta, an aerodynamic engineer who, over the years, had faithfully supported Ferrari’s plans while being moved between teams. He left the Scuderia for Sauber, returned to Maranello, then moved to Haas and came back once again.
The engineer, born in Imola on 14 September 1970, decided last year to join Mercedes, where in 2026 he will take on the role of strategic development director. An alarming and seemingly uncontrollable brain drain that, just one year before the start of the new regulatory era, had already raised serious concerns.
Now, with the new season fast approaching, Ferrari has been hit by two further internal changes. These are not as dramatic as the earlier departures, since both individuals will remain within the broader Ferrari organisation. Nevertheless, they will be assigned to roles very different from those they previously held.
Silvia Hoffer Frangipane, who has been head of communications for the Scuderia for seven years, decided on 8 January to move to Ferrari Corporate Communication, leaving the racing department behind.
On 16 January, another role change was announced, this time involving Riccardo Adami. Formerly a race engineer to Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz Jr, Adami worked alongside Lewis Hamilton during his first season at Ferrari in 2025. He has now been reassigned to a key role within the Ferrari Driver Academy.
These last two moves would likely have caused little reaction had they been announced at the end of the season. The fact that they have come just days before the launch of the SF-26 and the first tests of 2026, however, continues to fuel the doubts of those who fear that Ferrari’s season, and its preparation for the new regulatory era, could ultimately turn into a missed opportunity.
The focus narrows on Hamilton’s next race engineer
Of course, we hope this will not be the case. As we wait for the championship to begin, many are asking who will be the person chosen to replace Riccardo Adami on the pit wall and work side by side with Lewis Hamilton. What can be said for now is that the list of candidates has narrowed considerably in recent days.
Luca Diella appears to be the most likely option. A performance engineer who, since 2025, has been responsible for optimising the car’s overall performance on track, Diella holds a role similar to the one he carried out at Mercedes between 2021 and 2025. This shared past makes him and Hamilton old acquaintances, a factor that could prove decisive as Ferrari looks to stabilise its structure ahead of the demanding 2026 season.
As the SF-26 prepares to break cover, the atmosphere in Maranello feels more like a reorganization in progress than a settled championship assault. Whether these shifts are a calculated “clearing of the house” to make room for Hamilton’s preferred ways of working, or a genuine loss of stability, will be revealed the moment the lights go out. For the Tifosi, the hope remains that this internal turbulence is merely the storm before a triumphant calm, rather than a sign of another long year in the shadows of their rivals.
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