Hungaroring: Riccardo Adami highlights main challenges and characteristics of Hungarian track. Carlos Sainz's race engineer highlighted the main challenges of the Hungarian track.

Riccardo Adami is the race engineer for Carlos Sainz. A 50-year-old from Brescia, he has been in Formula 1 for over twenty years: after an experience at Toro Rosso, he decided to follow Sebastian Vettel to Ferrari in 2015. Since then, he has been a mainstay at Ferrari, so much so that next year he might follow Lewis Hamilton when the seven-time world champion takes over the Spaniard’s seat.

What are the characteristics of the Hungaroring?
“The Hungaroring is a track characterized by many low-speed corners and few straights. Usually, the aerodynamic configuration of the car is high downforce, although this entails greater drag. It is the permanent circuit with the lowest average lap speed in the entire championship. Excellent traction is required but also a very responsive front axle at mid-corner to optimize cornering.”

“High ambient temperatures and short straight sections put a strain on cooling the cars, and the track is challenging for the drivers as they tackle a quick succession of ‘karting’ style corners in the central section. It is difficult to overtake, so it is important to focus not only on race pace but also on qualifying. To make the weekend even more challenging, the weather conditions, at this time of year, can be changeable with possible summer thunderstorms.”

You have considerable experience in the role of Race Engineer and this year, besides Carlos, you had to support Oliver Bearman in his Formula 1 debut in Jeddah. What is the key to performing this role effectively?
“In my role, it is essential to manage communication with the driver to grasp their sensations and provide useful information depending on the circumstances and surrounding conditions, which are always extremely variable. I have worked with drivers with different characteristics and experience helps me assess individual situations to put them in the best condition to perform.”

“With Oliver, for example, we had little time available and it was important to provide him with the right information to conduct qualifying and the race. Over the course of a championship, it is possible to work longer to develop an increasingly close affinity between the driver and the team.”

Looking more at the personal side, what is the aspect you love most about your job, and what is the most complicated part to manage?
“I have been doing this job for years and I cannot do without the sensations experienced during a race weekend, especially when we do a good job. The championship is long and sometimes it is complicated to manage the moments of great tension that can arise. However, I am following my passion and it is a pride to be part of Scuderia Ferrari.”