Hamilton begins Ferrari tenure without permanent race engineer as key appointment is delayed

Lewis Hamilton has begun his first pre-season test with Ferrari at the Barcelona shakedown, but the seven-time champion is doing so without a confirmed, permanent race engineer by his side. The Scuderia has not yet named a replacement for Riccardo Adami, Hamilton's former engineer, leaving the driver to work with a temporary stand-in during this critical preparation phase.

Why it matters:

The race engineer is arguably the most important voice in a driver's ear, responsible for strategy, car setup, and real-time race decisions. For Hamilton, who is embarking on a high-pressure move to Ferrari after over a decade at Mercedes, building a strong, trusted relationship with this key figure is paramount to his integration and success. A delay in this appointment disrupts the crucial early bonding and system-building period before the competitive season begins.

The details:

• Ferrari confirmed that Riccardo Adami, who was initially assigned to Hamilton, will not continue in the role for the 2026 season. The team stated a replacement would be announced "in due course."
• For the Barcelona shakedown, Hamilton's engineering duties were handled by Bryan Bozzi, who is normally the race engineer for teammate Charles Leclerc.
• The situation has raised concerns among observers. Former F1 driver and analyst Karun Chandhok stated his "alarm bells" were ringing, emphasizing the importance of Hamilton establishing a seamless working relationship with his engineer from the outset.
• This administrative delay comes as Hamilton faces immense scrutiny and pressure to perform following his blockbuster switch to Maranello.

What's next:

All eyes will be on Ferrari to swiftly resolve the personnel gap. The team will need to finalize and announce Hamilton's new race engineer well before the season-opening Grand Prix to allow the pairing maximum time to gel.

• The longer the uncertainty persists, the more it could impact Hamilton's comfort and preparation within the new team structure.
• How quickly Hamilton and his new engineer can establish their radio communication and strategic rapport will be a key subplot to watch in the early races of 2026.