Ferrari Eyes Former McLaren Engineer for Hamilton's Race Engineer Role

Ferrari is reportedly targeting a former McLaren engineer to become Lewis Hamilton’s new race engineer, signaling a strategic reset for the seven-time champion's 2026 campaign. The move comes after the team reassigned Hamilton's previous engineer, Riccardo Adami, to the Ferrari Driver Academy.

Why it matters:

The synergy between a driver and their race engineer is the cockpit's lifeline, dictating strategy execution and car setup feedback. After a challenging first season, Ferrari is aggressively reshuffling support staff to ensure Hamilton can extract maximum performance from their next-generation car under the new 2026 regulations.

The Details:

• The Target: Reports from Corriere dello Sport suggest Ferrari is waiting for a recruit from McLaren, with paddock rumors pointing to Cedric Michel-Grosjean, a former lead trackside performance engineer at Woking.
• Clean Slate: This personnel shift represents a desire for a "clean sheet" approach. While internal candidates like performance engineer Luca Diella are in the frame, the focus on an external hire highlights the urgency to find the perfect dynamic.
• Interim Measures: Charles Leclerc’s engineer, Bryan Bozzi, has been pulling double duty, managing radio communications for both cars during recent shakedowns at Fiorano and tests in Barcelona.
• Paddock Insight: Sky Sports commentator David Croft noted that the previous pairing "wasn't a relationship that was going anywhere in a positive way," emphasizing that the new appointment adds pressure on Hamilton to deliver results immediately.

What's next:

Ferrari is expected to consult Hamilton closely before making a permanent appointment. As the Scuderia finalizes its 2026 package, securing a communication structure that allows the Briton to thrive is paramount to their championship ambitions.