Lewis Hamilton has expressed that parting ways with race engineer Riccardo Adami was an arduous choice as he gears up for the 2026 Formula 1 season.
The seasoned driver’s inaugural year with Ferrari proved to be one of the most challenging periods in his illustrious racing career, largely due to a noticeable disconnect in communication with Adami.
Recently, the Scuderia made headlines by confirming that Adami would transition to a new position as the manager of the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy and Test Previous Cars.
“It was obviously a very difficult decision to make,” Hamilton remarked during a press event in Bahrain. “I truly appreciate the dedication he showed last year, along with his understanding. It was undoubtedly a tough year for all of us.”
During the recent shakedown in Barcelona, Hamilton was supported by Bryan Bozzi, who typically collaborates with his teammate Charles Leclerc and will continue to do so this season.
Starting from the Bahrain Grand Prix, Hamilton will be teaming up with Carlos Santi, who previously served as Kimi Raikkonen’s race engineer at Ferrari. This arrangement is temporary, and it remains uncertain whether Santi will remain in this role for the entire season.
“As the season progresses, it’s essential to adapt and work with new individuals. While it would be preferable to kick off the season alongside people with whom I’ve shared numerous seasons and faced challenges, we must navigate the current circumstances,” the seven-time world champion noted.
Hamilton also acknowledged the impact this situation has on him personally, emphasizing his commitment to strive for excellence. “We are all doing our utmost to achieve the best results possible,” he added.
After completing the initial session of the Bahrain pre-season test, Hamilton piloted the Ferrari SF-26, clocking a time of 1m36.433s, which placed him fourth overall—exactly one second behind Max Verstappen’s leading time. He successfully finished 52 laps in total.
Bahrain Pre-Season Testing Highlights
The Bahrain pre-season testing has provided a wealth of insights, as teams prepare for the upcoming racing season.
