At the conclusion of the 2025 Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, which saw Lewis Hamilton deliver an impressive comeback drive that ended with a seventh-place finish after starting from the pit lane, the seven-time world champion disclosed that there were two additional updates on his Ferrari SF-25 during that thirteenth round of the season. These were in addition to the revised rear suspension, which had been tested earlier at the Mugello circuit and was officially introduced at Spa by Scuderia Ferrari.
The first update, already detailed in a previous article and dedicated video, concerned the braking system—specifically, the introduction of new Brembo-manufactured brake pads, which Charles Leclerc had been testing and using in previous Grands Prix. The second development related to a personnel change within Hamilton’s own technical crew.
While discussing the car’s setup—particularly the interaction between the new rear suspension and braking system—as well as the issues he had encountered early in the race weekend, Lewis Hamilton also revealed that “there has been a change of engineer” within his team. He went on to explain that, despite the challenges of implementing such changes mid-season, the transition was eased by the fact that the new engineer is someone he has known for many years. “This person comes from my old team, even though in a different role,” he noted. According to Hamilton, the working relationship is progressing rapidly, with both adapting quickly to the new dynamic. He cited the improvements made to the SF-25 between Friday and Saturday in Belgium as a clear sign of the growing synergy. “We’ve done a great job, and we’re getting stronger.”
It has already been reported that Johannes Hatz remains Charles Leclerc’s Performance Engineer and continued in that role throughout the Belgian Grand Prix, working on the #16 side of the Ferrari garage. Johannes Hatz, who joined Ferrari from Racing Bulls last year, has consistently worked on the Monegasque driver car.
However, Italian website AutoRacer has now confirmed that the engineer Lewis Hamilton referred to is Luca Diella, and it has been revealed that he was already present on Hamilton’s side of the garage at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Luca Diella previously held the role of Trackside Performance Engineer at Mercedes and was part of the Anglo-German team from 2019 until his departure in February 2025. Following his exit from the reigning world championship-winning team, he joined Ferrari.
Initially, Diella was assigned primarily to Maranello’s test team, but more recently, he was officially appointed as the Performance Engineer responsible for Hamilton’s SF-25. It is no coincidence—nor a surprise—that this important addition to the seven-time world champion’s technical crew is someone he already trusts and who possesses extensive knowledge of engine and power unit systems. During his time at Mercedes, Luca Diella had worked with Hamilton specifically on the Power Unit side as a Performance Engineer.
Hamilton’s adaptation to the Ferrari SF-25 has been under scrutiny since the beginning of the 2025 season. In particular, he has encountered difficulties under braking—prompting the recent push to test new brake components such as the Brembo pads—and with Ferrari’s hybrid power unit management, especially the different use of engine braking compared to what he was accustomed to at Mercedes. This topic has also been addressed by Carlos Sainz, who now drives for Williams—a team that uses Mercedes engines—after making the switch in the opposite direction.
It is evident that Lewis Hamilton is actively working to find a balance between his established preferences, his specific driving needs, and the working methods of Scuderia Ferrari. This is part of a broader effort to build what he considers “his own” team within the Maranello-based outfit. The goal is to harmonize two different technical and cultural philosophies—the British and the Italian—in order to establish a structure that can deliver competitive results.
There has been much discussion surrounding Hamilton’s collaboration with race engineer Riccardo Adami, a relationship that continues to evolve positively as the races go by. However, behind the scenes, Hamilton is also making additional strategic moves—beyond the dossiers and technical feedback he and Charles Leclerc have been compiling for the development of future cars.
These actions, taken in coordination with Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur and Ferrari’s deputy team principal Jérôme D’Ambrosio, are part of a broader integration process designed to help Hamilton feel more at home within the Ferrari organization and accelerate his adaptation. The ultimate objective is clear: to return to winning races as soon as possible.
Having a trusted figure like Luca Diella by his side—an engineer he has worked with before and who possesses deep expertise in power unit performance—represents a key component in Hamilton’s plan to overcome his current limitations with the SF-25. This strategic appointment could make a decisive difference in his quest to bring Ferrari back to the top step of the podium.
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