Ferrari have made a ‘strange’ decision in their search for Lewis Hamilton’s new race engineer

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Ferrari weren’t one of the F1 teams who took to the track on the opening day of the Barcelona Shakedown. Instead, they waited until Tuesday to begin their programme.

There’s an unusual set-up in the Ferrari garage this week, with Bryan Bozzi acting as the engineer for both drivers. Bozzi typically works with Charles Leclerc but will also be supporting Hamilton.

That’s after Ferrari reassigned Riccardo Adami, Hamilton’s 2025 engineer, to a role in their driver academy. The relationship between the two appeared to be strained.

Hamilton failed to score a single podium in his first season with the team, so it’s not a surprise to see Fred Vasseur take drastic action on his side of the garage.

Ivan Capelli questions delay in Lewis Hamilton race engineer appointment

Speaking to journalist Leo Turrini, former F1 driver Ivan Capelli, who raced for Ferrari in 1992, questioned their approach to replacing Adami.

Capelli thinks that Ferrari should have waited until they had a replacement lined up before announcing Adami’s role change, although they naturally needed to clarify the situation before testing.

Ferrari are expected to sign Cedric Grosjean, one of Oscar Piastri’s former engineers, to fill the position. Grosjean left McLaren in December 2025 and is on a period of gardening leave.

A year since this iconic shot ⏳ Be honest — one word for Hamilton’s Ferrari era so far? 👀

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That might explain the delay, but it certainly doesn’t help Hamilton’s preparations for the new season.

“I think Lewis is still willing to take risks,” Capelli said. “He’s coming off a bad year and he knows it. He’ll seek redemption; I can’t imagine a sad end to his career.

“However, I’d add that I find it strange that his new race engineer hasn’t yet been officially appointed, replacing Riccardo Adami. Maybe it’s just a matter of hours, but certain things should be clarified in advance.”

The real reason Adrian Newey’s Ferrari talks failed

The 2026 Ferrari car has been designed chiefly by Loic Serra, an aerodynamicist who joined from Mercedes. There was a time when it was poised to be Adrian Newey’s first project at Maranello.

Newey held talks with Ferrari after he left Red Bull, but the legendary British designer ended up joining Aston Martin instead.

Asked about the failed negotiations, Capelli said that Newey wanted too much power for Ferrari’s liking. The 67-year-old has just become the team principal at Aston Martin after winning a battle for control with Andy Cowell.

“There were negotiations when Adrian left Red Bull,” said Capelli. “It didn’t materialise, as far as I know, because he was asking for room for manoeuvre within the company that his interlocutors didn’t see fit to grant him. It happens.”

When it was put to him that Newey wanted a ‘carte blanche’, he replied: “That’s a correct translation.”