F1 News Today: Hamilton issues Riccardo Adami update as Ferrari

F1 News Today: Hamilton issues Riccardo Adami update as Ferrari star admits….read more

Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton has offered a candid update on his budding relationship with Ferrari race engineer Riccardo Adami, following what has been a rocky beginning to his tenure with the iconic Italian team. After years of success with Mercedes, Hamilton’s move to Ferrari has been one of the most anticipated changes in recent F1 history. However, the early stages of this new partnership have not gone as smoothly as fans might have hoped.

The Briton has admitted that adapting to a new environment, team structure, and especially a different race engineer, has proven more difficult than expected. Hamilton, known for his strong connection with longtime Mercedes engineer Peter Bonnington (“Bono”), has found the adjustment to Adami’s communication style and strategic approach somewhat challenging.

Speaking to the press ahead of the upcoming Grand Prix, Hamilton opened up about the ongoing effort to build chemistry with Adami, who previously worked closely with Sebastian Vettel and more recently with Carlos Sainz. Hamilton noted that while there is mutual respect between him and Adami, developing a strong and intuitive working relationship will take time.

“Ricciardo is very experienced and smart, and I appreciate how much passion he brings,” Hamilton said. “But building the kind of synergy I had with Bono doesn’t happen overnight. We’re still learning each other’s styles, preferences, and ways of communicating under pressure.”

Hamilton emphasized that the process has involved lots of feedback, open communication, and patience from both sides. “There’s definitely been some frustrations on both ends,” he admitted. “We’ve had moments during races where we weren’t perfectly aligned, but we’re working on it. These things take time, and we’re committed to making it work.”

Adami, a seasoned engineer with over a decade at Ferrari, is known for his technical expertise and calm demeanor, but Hamilton’s arrival has pushed him into a new kind of spotlight. Fans and pundits have been quick to scrutinize every radio message and pit lane interaction, adding pressure to an already intense learning curve.

Meanwhile, Hamilton’s performance on track has also been under a microscope. Ferrari’s car, while competitive, has not consistently matched the pace of Red Bull or McLaren. In a few instances, strategic miscommunications appeared to cost Hamilton valuable points—raising questions about how quickly he and Adami can fully sync.

Interestingly, Hamilton also touched on Ferrari’s overall team culture, which differs significantly from what he was used to at Mercedes. He mentioned that while the passion and energy at Ferrari are unparalleled, the way the team operates and interprets regulations can sometimes lead to creative “grey area” thinking.

This sentiment was echoed by Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, who admitted in a recent interview that the team sometimes “plays with the rules” to find an edge. While Leclerc clarified that this doesn’t mean breaking regulations, it does involve exploring loopholes or technical interpretations that might give them a competitive advantage.

Hamilton diplomatically acknowledged this aspect of Ferrari’s approach, noting, “Every team looks for an edge. At Ferrari, they have a different mindset, more aggressive in some ways, and it’s something I’m learning to understand and work with. It’s part of the adaptation process.”

Despite the early bumps in the road, Hamilton remains optimistic. He stated clearly that he believes in the team’s potential and is focused on long-term gains rather than short-term results. “This is a journey,” he said. “And while the beginning hasn’t been easy, I’m confident that we’re going to grow stronger as a unit.”

As the F1 season progresses, all eyes will be on Hamilton and Adami to see if their partnership can evolve into a winning formula. For now, it’s a work in progress, but both men seem determined to make it a success—one race at a time.