Hamilton seeks new engineer as Cadillac completes shakedown
Hamilton needs a new race engineer after Riccardo Adami moved to Ferrari's academy, ending hopes of a Peter Bonnington reunion. Meanwhile, Cadillac completed a shakedown at Silverstone with Zhou Guanyu.
Lewis Hamilton is searching for a new race engineer after Ferrari moved Riccardo Adami to a role within their Driver Academy. This shift comes just ahead of Hamilton's debut season with the team, leaving the seven-time champion without his designated trackside strategist. Meanwhile, Cadillac has hit the track for the first time, completing a shakedown at Silverstone with reserve driver Zhou Guanyu.
Why it matters:
The driver-engineer relationship is the cockpit's most critical dynamic, dictating car setup and race strategy. For Hamilton, integrating into a new team without a confirmed engineer adds a layer of complexity to his high-profile switch. Simultaneously, Cadillac's track activity signals tangible progress for the 2026 grid expansion.
The details:
- Personnel Shift: Riccardo Adami, who was set to be Hamilton's race engineer, has been reassigned as the Driver Academy and Test Previous Cars Manager to leverage his experience for future talent.
- No Bonnington Reunion: GPblog confirms that despite Hamilton's interest, Mercedes engineer Peter Bonnington will not join him at Maranello and remains committed to his role at Brackley.
- Cadillac's Debut: The American outfit completed a shakedown at Silverstone. Zhou Guanyu, recently signed from Sauber, drove the car and reported on initial learnings.
- Competitive Context: Cadillac's run follows Audi's recent shakedown in Barcelona, highlighting the accelerating preparations for the new regulatory era in 2026.
What's next:
Ferrari must now identify and appoint a qualified replacement for Adami to ensure Hamilton hits the ground running in pre-season testing. Expect both Cadillac and Audi to ramp up their testing programs as the 2026 debut draws closer.