Lewis Hamilton Calls Ferrari Engineer Situation Detrimental 2026

Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Lewis Hamilton has described the uncertainty surrounding his race engineer situation at Ferrari as “detrimental” ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season, as the Scuderia undergoes internal restructuring following a challenging debut campaign together.

Hamilton’s first season in red was marked by adaptation issues, including moments of visible tension over team radio with then-race engineer Riccardo Adami. In mid-January, Ferrari confirmed Adami had been reassigned to manage the Scuderia Ferrari Driver Academy and Testing of Previous Cars programmes, effectively removing him from Hamilton’s side of the garage.

In the interim, Ferrari appointed Carlo Santi — head of remote engineering and former race engineer to Kimi Raikkonen in 2018 — to work alongside Hamilton for the opening three or four grands prix. A permanent solution is widely understood to be former McLaren engineer Cédric Michel-Grosjean, although no official confirmation has yet been made.

The timing complicates matters further, given the sweeping 2026 regulation changes affecting both aerodynamics and power units. Rapid driver-engineer cohesion is widely regarded as critical in extracting performance under a new technical framework.

Speaking to media including RacingNews365, Hamilton acknowledged the difficulty of the decision regarding Adami.

“The first thing with Riccardo is that it was obviously a very difficult decision to make,” Hamilton said, as quoted by RacingNews365.

“I’m really, really grateful for all the effort he put in last year and his patience. It was a difficult year for us all.”

Assessing the temporary arrangement with Santi, Hamilton was candid about its implications.

“It’s actually quite a difficult period, because the solution that we currently have is not long-term. It’s only going to be a few races.

“So early on into the season, I’m going to be switching up again, and I’ll have to learn to work with someone new.”

Hamilton stressed that such instability is not ideal when attempting to start a campaign strongly under new regulations.

“That’s detrimental to a season where you want to arrive with people who have done multiple seasons, who have been through thick and thin, and are calm.”

Nevertheless, the seven-time world champion emphasised his commitment to navigating the situation professionally.

“It is the situation I’m faced with, and I’ll try and do the best I can. The team is trying to do the best it can to help make it seem as seamless as possible.”

For Ferrari, consistency in communication and technical direction will be pivotal as it seeks to re-establish itself at the front of the grid in the new regulatory cycle. Early-season stability often defines momentum, particularly when performance gaps are still being understood.

The coming races will therefore not only test the competitiveness of Ferrari’s 2026 package but also the effectiveness of its revised engineering structure at a time when operational clarity could prove decisive.