Hamilton confirmed 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 said. “It’s only going to be a few races.”

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He added: “Early on into the season, it’s going to be switching up again and I’ll have to learn to work with someone new. So that’s detrimental to the season.”

The decision to part ways with Adami came after what Hamilton described as a challenging first year at the Scuderia.

Ferrari confirmed last month that the Italian engineer had been moved aside following a fractious season working alongside the British driver.

“Firstly with Riccardo, it was a very difficult decision to make,” Hamilton explained. “And I’m really grateful for all the effort he put in last year, and his patience and, you know… it was a difficult year for us all.”

Carlo Santi, who previously served as Kimi Raikkonen’s race engineer, has stepped in as a temporary solution.

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Santi was present on the pitwall during Ferrari’s shakedown at Barcelona a fortnight ago and continues in that role at the Bahrain test.

The permanent replacement is believed to be Cédric Michel-Grosjean, who departed McLaren in December.

However, the former McLaren engineer will not be available to begin work until several grands prix have already taken place.

Hamilton made clear his frustration at not having his long-term engineer in position from the outset.

The 41-year-old emphasised the significance of building a strong working relationship with the person communicating with him during races.

“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 said of his ideal situation.

The driver acknowledged this was simply the reality he must navigate, pledging to make the best of circumstances alongside his team.

“But it is the situation that I’m faced with, and I’ll try to do the best I can,” Hamilton stated. “We are, the team is, trying to do the best they can to help make it much better as soon as possible.”

Ferrari are working to resolve the engineering situation while Hamilton adapts to his new surroundings at Maranello.

The British driver’s first day of testing was not without incident, as hot conditions in Bahrain caused braking difficulties for multiple drivers on the grid.

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Hamilton experienced a spin at turn one during the morning session, losing the rear of his car and rotating 180 degrees, though no damage was sustained.

The team continues preparations ahead of the season opener in Australia.