Vasseur Evaluates Race Engineer Options for Hamilton Ahead of 2026

Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur has confirmed the team is "evaluating all options" regarding Lewis Hamilton's race engineer for the 2026 season, leaving the door open for a potential change from Riccardo Adami. This follows a difficult 2025 campaign for Hamilton at Ferrari, marked by tense radio exchanges and a significant performance gap to teammate Charles Leclerc.

Why it matters:

The relationship between a driver and their race engineer is a critical, high-pressure partnership that directly impacts race strategy and performance. After a season defined by frustration and miscommunication, a change could be pivotal for Hamilton's integration and success at Ferrari, a team he joined with immense expectation. For a seven-time champion struggling to extract performance, optimizing this link is non-negotiable.

The details:

• Vasseur's comment to Corriere della Sera directly addresses speculation about Riccardo Adami's future with Hamilton, signaling internal review after a challenging year.
• The 2025 season featured several awkward radio moments, most notably in Miami where Hamilton sarcastically suggested the pit wall take a "tea break" amid strategic indecision.
• Hamilton finished the season 86 points behind Charles Leclerc, failing to secure a single podium—a first in his illustrious career.
• Vasseur admitted a lack of "understanding" between team and driver contributed to the underperformance, emphasizing the need for improved collaboration and a better grasp of Hamilton's needs.

The big picture:

Hamilton's situation contrasts sharply with his stable 12-year partnership with engineer Peter Bonnington at Mercedes, a relationship cemented by success. At Ferrari, he is navigating a new environment where such deep, intuitive understanding does not yet exist. Teammate Charles Leclerc also underwent an engineer change in 2024 (to Bryan Bozzi), showing Ferrari is willing to make adjustments to optimize performance. The team's evaluation underscores a broader effort to build the right support system around their star signing.

What's next:

Ferrari's decision on Hamilton's engineer will be a key indicator of their approach to the 2026 season.

• If Adami remains, it would suggest confidence that the working relationship can be repaired with time and clearer communication protocols.
• A new engineer would represent a fresh start, aiming to replicate the seamless partnership Hamilton enjoyed at Mercedes.
• The outcome will be closely watched as a barometer for Hamilton's potential to challenge at the front with Ferrari, a goal that hinges on perfecting every operational detail.