Jan.21 (GMM) Ferrari will not immediately appoint a new race engineer for Lewis Hamilton, with Charles Leclerc’s engineer expected to oversee both cars during next week’s first on-track running of the 2026 machine.
Following the reassignment of Riccardo Adami away from the race team, the Scuderia has confirmed that Hamilton’s long-term replacement will be named only “in due course”, despite the opening Barcelona test now just days away.
According to Corriere della Sera journalist Giuliano Duchessa, Ferrari has opted for continuity during the initial phase of the new regulations rather than rushing a permanent appointment.
“Despite a dinner together before Christmas, Lewis Hamilton will part ways with engineer Riccardo Adami,” Duchessa wrote. “Both would have liked to see a better understanding, but sometimes the connection doesn’t fully develop.”
Adami, who worked closely with Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz during his Ferrari tenure, has been moved into a new role within the Ferrari Driver Academy and Testing Previous Cars programme.
With the SF-26 not yet ready for competitive benchmarking, Ferrari is understood to be treating the Barcelona outing as an extended systems check rather than a full performance test.
“Ferrari will have to appoint Adami’s replacement, but it won’t be anytime soon,” Duchessa added. “Bryan Bozzi is expected to manage both drivers in Barcelona, for what will essentially be a lengthy shakedown of the sole SF-26.”
Bozzi has been Leclerc’s race engineer and is regarded internally as a steady hand, particularly valuable during the delicate opening weeks of the 2026 regulation cycle.
Duchessa also noted that Ferrari plans an unusually heavy Testing Previous Car program this year, using the 2024-spec SF-24 alongside the new challenger.
“There should be a demanding number of private sessions (TPC) this year, to be tackled with the SF-24, a solid and effective car,” he confirmed.
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