Lewis Hamilton has openly admitted that Ferrari's current plan for his race engineer is "detrimental" to the beginning of his 2026 Formula 1 campaign, with just three weeks remaining until the season opener in Australia. This revelation comes amid a turbulent period for the seven-time world champion, who is navigating a critical transition at the Scuderia.
A Sub-Optimal Situation for Hamilton
After a challenging debut year at Ferrari in 2025, where Hamilton failed to secure a podium finish for the first time in his 19-year career, he made the difficult decision to part ways with race engineer Riccardo Adami last month. The pair had frequently clashed over team radio, highlighting the strain of a disappointing season. Hamilton is now keen to recruit Cedric Michel-Grosjean, formerly Oscar Piastri's performance engineer at McLaren, but the Frenchman must complete his notice period after leaving the team at the end of 2025.
Interim Arrangements and Long-Term Concerns
In the interim, which could extend through the first few races of the 2026 season, Hamilton will collaborate with Carlo Santi, Ferrari's head of remote engineering, who previously served as Kimi Raikkonen's race engineer in 2018. Speaking during the second pre-season test in Bahrain, where Hamilton worked with Santi on the pit-wall, the 41-year-old driver expressed his frustrations.
"It's actually quite a difficult period because it's not long-term, the solution that we currently have, it's only going to be a few races," Hamilton acknowledged. "So, early on into the season, it's going to be switching up again, and I'll have to learn to work with someone new, so that's detrimental to a season where you want to arrive with people that have done multiple seasons, have been through thick and thin and are calm."
He added, "But it is the situation that I'm faced with and I'll try to do the best that I can. The team is trying to do the best they can to make it as seamless as possible." Reflecting on Adami's departure, Hamilton noted, "With Riccardo, it was obviously a very difficult decision to make. I'm really, really grateful for all the effort he put in last year and his patience in what was a difficult year for us all."
Engine Controversy and Competitive Hopes
Beyond the engineer dilemma, Hamilton has also challenged the FIA, Formula 1's governing body, to address the sport's ongoing engine controversy. A row has erupted between Mercedes and the four other power unit manufacturers, with whispers of unequal fuel loads and extra power advantages.
"I hope we are in the mix this season," Hamilton said. "Apart from Mercedes, we all look like we are quite close, but we don't know what fuel loads everyone is on. There are whispers of certain fuel loads that Mercedes are on. There are whispers of extra power that they have that the rest of us don't have. And the compression ratio sort of thing."
He emphasized, "Hopefully that gets sorted and the FIA take care of that to make sure we are all starting on an equal playing field." This adds another layer of complexity as Hamilton prepares for his 20th consecutive season in Formula 1, which kicks off with the Australian Grand Prix on 8 March 2026.
The Broader Implications for Ferrari
This engineer upheaval occurs at the start of a new regulations cycle, making it a particularly sub-optimal scenario for Hamilton and Ferrari. The team's ability to adapt quickly will be crucial in a season where competitive edges are finely balanced. Hamilton's experience and resilience will be tested as he navigates these early-season challenges, aiming to rebound from a lacklustre 2025 and re-establish himself as a title contender.
