Ferrari break up Hamilton pairing after troubled season
A quiet decision with loud implications
Ferrari’s move to reshuffle Lewis Hamilton’s race engineering setup may have arrived without fanfare, but its implications are significant. According to ESPN, the team confirmed last week that Riccardo Adami has been reassigned to another role within the company following a difficult 2025 campaign.
The change comes as Hamilton prepares for his second season with Ferrari and his first under the sport’s new 2026 regulations, a moment many inside the paddock view as pivotal for both driver and team.
Brundle questions why it took so long
Martin Brundle believes the decision should have come sooner. Speaking on Sky Sports F1, the former Formula 1 driver said the signs of strain between Hamilton and his engineer were visible throughout last season.
"I am surprised it probably did not happen a bit earlier, really, judging by all the things that were going on last year," Brundle said.
Read also: Barcelona hit by injury blow as Pedri faces weeks out
According to Brundle, the on track radio exchanges were revealing, even if Ferrari attempted to keep internal tensions out of the spotlight.
Why communication matters more for Hamilton
Hamilton joined Ferrari in 2025 after more than a decade at Mercedes, where continuity and trust on the pit wall were central to his success. Brundle stressed that a driver of Hamilton’s experience relies heavily on being understood clearly during races.
"Lewis needs to go there with a team so that at least they understand Lewis speak when he is inside the car, what it all means, and to interpret what Lewis really needs behind the wheel," he said.
Throughout the season, radio messages hinted at confusion and frustration on both sides. Brundle argued those moments were symptoms of a larger disconnect.
Read also: Vinicius Jr linked to €1bn Saudi offer
"Just listening to the radio and watching the performance, although they obviously put a varnish on it through last season, something needed to change."
Ferrari focuses on a clean slate for 2026
Ferrari has not yet announced who will replace Adami as Hamilton’s race engineer. According to ESPN, Hamilton is scheduled to drive Ferrari’s 2026 car for the first time next week during a private preseason test in Barcelona.
The team will officially unveil the car on Friday, followed by two three day tests in Bahrain before the season opens at the Australian Grand Prix on March 8.
A partnership under pressure after a difficult debut year
Hamilton finished sixth in the championship during his first season with Ferrari, the first time in his Formula 1 career he failed to record a podium finish. The result intensified scrutiny of how quickly the team could adapt to his needs.
Read also: Kyiv power outages force Ukraine to rethink youth athletics calendar
With a new technical era approaching, Ferrari’s decision to change Hamilton’s race engineer is widely seen as an attempt to reset more than just personnel. It is a signal that the team believes success in 2026 will depend as much on communication and trust as outright performance.
Sources: ESPN, Sky Sports F1
Read also: The 50 Greatest Manchester United Players of All Time
