Lewis Hamilton raises concerns over delayed race engineer appointment
Lewis Hamilton has expressed fears that the delayed appointment of his permanent race engineer could harm his 2026 campaign with Ferrari, reports BritPanorama.
The seven-time world champion spoke candidly on the opening day of Bahrain testing, completing 52 laps during the morning session before handing over to Charles Leclerc. Hamilton confirmed that his replacement for Riccardo Adami will only be able to join the team after “a few races” into the season.
“It’s actually quite a difficult period because it’s not long term, the solution that I currently have,” Hamilton noted. “It’s only going to be a few races.” He added that this early disruption will require him to adapt quickly to a new working relationship, which he described as “detrimental to the season.”
The decision to part ways with Adami came after what Hamilton characterized as a challenging first year at Scuderia Ferrari. “Firstly with Riccardo, it was a very difficult decision to make,” he explained. “And I’m really grateful for all the effort he put in last year.” Ferrari confirmed last month that the Italian engineer had been moved aside following a fractious season alongside the British driver.
Carlo Santi, who previously served as Kimi Raikkonen’s race engineer, is stepping in as a temporary solution while the permanent replacement, believed to be Cédric Michel-Grosjean, remains unavailable until after several races have taken place. Hamilton expressed frustration at not having a long-term engineer in place from the start of the season, emphasizing that building a strong working relationship is crucial for success.
“A season where you want to arrive with people who have done multiple seasons, who have been through thick and thin and, you know, are calm,” Hamilton reflected on his ideal scenario, underscoring the challenges ahead as he navigates his new circumstances at Ferrari.
Despite these hurdles, Hamilton pledged to make the best of the situation, stating, “But it is the situation that I’m faced with, and I’ll try to do the best I can.” The team is also working on resolving the engineering situation while Hamilton continues to adapt to his new surroundings at Maranello.
As for the first day of testing, it was not without incident; hot conditions in Bahrain led to braking difficulties for multiple drivers on the grid. Hamilton also experienced a spin at turn one during the morning session, though he sustained no damage. As preparations continue for the season opener in Australia, all eyes will be on how these early dynamics play out within the Ferrari garage.
Such early-season trials remind fans and pundits alike of the precarious balance between performance and consistency — a balance that can ultimately define a championship bid.
