Ferrari have named Lewis Hamilton’s next race engineer for the 2026 F1 season, but it remains to be seen when Riccardo Adami’s replacement will actually arrive in Maranello.
Adami, who didn’t quite click with Hamilton during the 2025 campaign, has moved into a new position within Ferrari’s Formula 1 operations.
He’ll now be running the Ferrari Driver Academy as well as their testing of previous cars (TPC) programme.
Adami struggled to understand Hamilton’s need for more emotional support, which led to several tense radio exchanges throughout the year.
One of the more memorable moments came in Miami, where Hamilton criticised Adami for being slow with team orders, saying he must’ve been “having a tea break.”
Ferrari appoint Cedric Michel-Grosjean as Lewis Hamilton’s next race engineer
After Riccardo Adami moved into a new position, Ferrari quickly moved away from the idea of reuniting Hamilton with Peter Bonnington, recognising how unlikely it would be to bring the British engineer over from Mercedes. Instead, they’ve turned to Cedric Michel-Grosjean for the 2026 season.
Michel-Grosjean left McLaren in December, and according to a report from Formula1.it, he has already agreed terms with Ferrari. However, there’s still no agreement in place between the two teams regarding his gardening leave.
He could even be available as early as the opening race of the 2026 season in Australia if McLaren release him in time. Until then, Ferrari are relying on an interim solution.
Carlo Santi, who previously worked with Kimi Raikkonen, has agreed to step in temporarily but has only committed to covering three rounds before stepping aside.
McLaren could delay Michel-Grosjean’s Ferrari start by up to six months
Ferrari might need to persuade Santi to extend his interim role, not just to give Michel-Grosjean time to adjust after eight years at McLaren, but also to help Hamilton get his season off on the right foot. To do that, they’ll need McLaren’s cooperation soon.
There are reports suggesting McLaren may hold Michel-Grosjean to a gardening leave period of between three and six months. If enforced for the full term, it would keep him out of action for as many as seven races.
Ferrari will be hoping for a three-month release, which would allow Michel-Grosjean to start working with Hamilton from round one and fit within Santi’s temporary stint. Anything longer could make for a bumpy beginning to Hamilton’s second year in red.
Read More Like This:
- FIA consider Lewis Hamilton’s 2026 Ferrari inspection before approving aggressive aero design
- Karun Chandhok raises early concerns over Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari in F1 testing
- Ferrari may have risked upsetting Charles Leclerc by accepting Lewis Hamilton’s 2026 car demands
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
