BREAKING: Concerns grow over Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari setup as F1 Insider Q…read more
Concerns grow over Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari setup as F1 insider questions key decision
Lewis Hamilton’s early days at Ferrari have sparked concern within the Formula 1 paddock, with one insider admitting he is troubled by the uncertainty surrounding the Briton’s race engineer arrangement.
Ahead of Ferrari’s Barcelona shakedown, the team confirmed that Riccardo Adami would no longer continue as Hamilton’s race engineer for the 2026 season. Although reports suggest McLaren performance engineer Cedric Michel-Grosjean is set to join Ferrari and take over the role, the Scuderia has yet to make any official announcement.
The lack of clarity was evident during the five-day Barcelona shakedown, where Hamilton did not have a dedicated race engineer. Instead, he shared Charles Leclerc’s regular engineer, Bryan Bozzi, for the test — a move that raised questions among observers.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ coverage of the Barcelona shakedown, former F1 driver Karun Chandhok admitted the situation was worrying.
He explained that seeing Bozzi oversee Hamilton’s running was confusing, stressing how vital the relationship between a driver and race engineer is in modern Formula 1. According to Chandhok, the strongest partnerships are built on instinct and understanding, where both sides can anticipate each other’s thoughts and solutions without lengthy explanations.
Chandhok also expressed surprise that Ferrari had not prioritised building that relationship during the off-season. He suggested simulator work, private testing in older cars, and regular interaction would have helped Hamilton bond with his future engineer and integrate that individual into Ferrari’s wider engineering group.
He added that while fans only hear the radio messages during sessions, those exchanges represent just a small part of the constant communication happening behind the scenes at the factory and track.
With testing already underway, Chandhok said it was puzzling that Hamilton had yet to begin that crucial bonding process, especially following a difficult previous season. As Ferrari prepares for the major challenges of the 2026 regulations, the unresolved engineer situation has left some insiders uneasy about how smoothly Hamilton’s transition will unfold.
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