Lewis Hamilton and race engineer Riccardo Adami have formally parted ways ahead of the 2026 Formula One campaign.
The new season gets underway in Melbourne on March 8.
The separation follows a troubled debut season for the seven-time world champion at Ferrari, during which he failed to secure a single podium finish.
Hamilton finished the 2025 championship in sixth place.
Car issues and mistakes compounded his woes throughout the year.
Radio disagreements between the British driver and his Italian engineer became a recurring theme, entertaining television audiences whilst highlighting a fundamental disconnect within the garage.
The fractious relationship was evident from the very first race in Australia last year.
Hamilton was heard frequently telling his engineer to step back and let him handle matters himself.
Lewis Hamilton and race engineer Riccardo Adami have formally parted ways
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Their most public falling-out occurred at the Miami Grand Prix, where Hamilton grew increasingly frustrated at his inability to overtake teammate Charles Leclerc.
As the pit wall deliberated over whether to implement team orders, Hamilton’s patience snapped.
He said: “Have a cup of tea while you’re at it.”
The comment underscored his dissatisfaction with Adami’s approach and decision-making instincts, which clashed fundamentally with his own racing philosophy.
The new season gets underway in Melbourne on March 8
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The partnership’s failure came despite strong endorsements from Sebastian Vettel, who had telephoned Hamilton before his £60 million-a-year switch to Maranello to share insights about life at the Scuderia.
The four-time world champion had specifically praised the 52-year-old Adami, with whom he had enjoyed a productive working relationship during his own Ferrari tenure.
Yet what worked for the German driver proved entirely unsuitable for Hamilton.
From the opening round in Melbourne, tensions surfaced as the British driver’s preferred hands-on approach clashed with Adami’s methods, setting a pattern of discord that would persist throughout the campaign.
Hamilton finished the 2025 championship in sixth place
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Ferrari confirmed the news yesterday evening, announcing that Adami had been reassigned to the team’s Driver Academy, where his trackside knowledge and Formula One experience would support the development of emerging talent.
The Italian outfit expressed gratitude for his contributions whilst wishing him well in his new position.
As for who will guide Hamilton through the 2026 season, Ferrari stated that the engineer for car number 44 would be revealed in due course.
One name definitively ruled out is Peter Bonnington, Hamilton’s trusted former Mercedes engineer, who signed a new contract with promotion at Brackley in 2024 and remains settled working alongside Kimi Antonelli.
