Hamilton Eyes 'New Beginnings' with Ferrari Amid Race Engineer Shuffle for 2026

Lewis Hamilton is entering the 2026 Formula 1 season with a renewed sense of optimism, declaring he is "massively excited" for a fresh start at Ferrari. This comes after a dismal 2025 campaign where he failed to secure a single podium, and as the Scuderia restructures his support team following the departure of race engineer Riccardo Adami.

Why it matters:

After a year defined by underperformance and a rare lack of competitiveness, Hamilton’s mindset and his working relationship with the team are critical. A change in race engineering personnel is a significant gamble, but it signals Ferrari's aggressive intent to unlock the seven-time champion's potential alongside Charles Leclerc under the new regulations.

The details:

• Resetting the Mindset: Hamilton admitted 2025 was "a very draining year" and has spent the winter break "removing things that don’t serve me." He emphasized the need to "undo patterns" and show up with the right energy, noting that the team feels "refreshed."
• Engineering Overhaul: Ferrari confirmed Adami is moving to a role focusing on the junior academy and TPC operations. Rumors suggest Cedric Michel-Grosjean, formerly Oscar Piastri’s lead trackside engineer at McLaren, is the favorite to replace him.
• Immediate Adjustments: For the opening pre-season test in Barcelona, Bryan Bozzi—Charles Leclerc’s race engineer—is reportedly stepping in to manage Hamilton while the final engineering structure is finalized.
• 2025 Struggles: The seven-time champion endured a statistical anomaly last season, ending with four consecutive Q1 eliminations and failing to stand on the podium for the first time in his career.

What's next:

The focus shifts immediately to the track in Barcelona, where the new SF-26 will face its first genuine examination. Hamilton will be looking to translate this mental reset into on-track pace, while the paddock watches closely to see how his new engineering dynamic unfolds.