Former Formula One driver and veteran broadcaster Martin Brundle believes Ferrari should have made changes to Lewis Hamilton’s race engineering setup much earlier, arguing that the partnership was never operating as smoothly as it needed to. His comments come after Ferrari confirmed that race engineer Riccardo Adami will move into a different role within the organization, bringing an end to his time working trackside with Hamilton.

The decision marks another significant development in Hamilton’s Ferrari journey, which has been filled with both enormous expectations and considerable challenges since the seven-time world champion joined the Italian team. While the move generated worldwide excitement, adapting to a completely new environment proved more difficult than many expected.

Hamilton arrived at Ferrari following an extraordinary twelve-year career with Mercedes, where he won multiple world championships and established one of the most successful driver-team partnerships in Formula One history. During that period, communication between Hamilton and his race engineers became highly refined through years of working together. Every phrase, tone of voice, and piece of feedback carried specific meaning, allowing the team to react quickly during races.

Transitioning to Ferrari meant rebuilding that relationship from the ground up.

Although Hamilton demonstrated flashes of his speed during his debut campaign by winning the Sprint race in China, consistent success in Grand Prix competition remained elusive. Throughout the season, he struggled to unlock the full potential of Ferrari’s package and was unable to secure a podium finish in the championship races.

Beyond the results themselves, observers frequently noticed moments of tension over the team radio. Conversations between Hamilton and Riccardo Adami occasionally appeared awkward, with requests for information sometimes leading to confusion or delayed responses. While such exchanges are not unusual in Formula One, repeated communication issues inevitably attracted attention from fans and analysts.

Martin Brundle believes those radio exchanges suggested deeper challenges behind the scenes. Speaking during the 2026 Autosport Awards, the former Formula One driver admitted that Ferrari’s recent announcement did not come as a surprise. In fact, he felt the team could have acted sooner if it believed the working relationship was not delivering the desired results.

According to Brundle, Formula One drivers rely heavily on their race engineers, who serve as their primary source of information throughout every practice session, qualifying lap, and race. The race engineer interprets technical data, provides strategic guidance, communicates with the pit wall, and translates the driver’s feedback into engineering solutions for the wider team.

Because of that responsibility, trust and understanding become just as important as technical expertise.

Brundle suggested that Hamilton needs someone who fully understands the unique way he communicates while driving. Every experienced Formula One driver develops their own vocabulary for describing tire behavior, braking balance, understeer, oversteer, and countless other characteristics that influence performance. Engineers who have worked with a driver for many seasons learn to interpret those comments almost instinctively.

Hamilton enjoyed precisely that level of understanding during his years at Mercedes. His long-term working relationships allowed engineers to recognize subtle differences in his feedback, often identifying problems before they became significant. Recreating that chemistry inside Ferrari has naturally required time, but Brundle indicated that the process appeared slower than expected.

He also acknowledged that Ferrari largely kept any internal frustrations away from public view throughout the previous season. Despite occasional awkward radio exchanges, the team consistently presented a united front and emphasized its commitment to helping Hamilton adapt. Nevertheless, Brundle believes the visible signs suggested that some form of change eventually became necessary.

Ferrari’s announcement confirms that Riccardo Adami will remain with the company in a different capacity rather than leaving the organization entirely. The team thanked him for his professionalism and contribution before stating that Hamilton’s new race engineer will be revealed at a later date.

That appointment is likely to attract considerable attention across the Formula One paddock.

The identity of Hamilton’s next race engineer could play a crucial role in Ferrari’s ambitions for the upcoming campaign. A strong partnership may help improve communication during races, accelerate technical development, and give Hamilton greater confidence when providing feedback about the car.

The timing of the change also coincides with Ferrari’s preparations for the new Formula One season. The team recently unveiled its latest challenger, introducing a refreshed livery that maintains Ferrari’s famous red identity while incorporating additional white elements and blue accents associated with title sponsor HP.

Although the updated appearance generated excitement among supporters, Ferrari’s primary focus remains improving performance on the circuit. Expectations surrounding Hamilton’s arrival have never diminished, and both the driver and team remain determined to challenge consistently at the front of the field.

For Hamilton personally, the coming season represents another opportunity to demonstrate that his decision to leave Mercedes can ultimately deliver the success he envisioned. The learning curve associated with joining one of Formula One’s most historic teams has been steeper than anticipated, but adapting to new engineers, procedures, and working methods is an inevitable part of changing organizations after more than a decade.

A new race engineer may provide exactly the fresh start required.

Strong communication has always been one of the defining characteristics of successful Formula One partnerships. Whether between Michael Schumacher and Ross Brawn, Sebastian Vettel and Guillaume Rocquelin, or Hamilton and his previous Mercedes engineers, championship-winning combinations are built upon mutual understanding developed over countless hours together.

Ferrari will hope its next appointment creates that same level of confidence and clarity.

While changing race engineers does not automatically transform a team’s competitiveness, it can remove communication barriers and improve decision-making during critical moments. Better understanding between driver and engineer often leads to more accurate setup changes, clearer strategic discussions, and faster responses to changing race conditions.

As Ferrari prepares for another championship campaign, Brundle’s comments have added further interest to Hamilton’s evolving story with the Scuderia. Whether the engineering change proves to be a turning point will only become clear once the season begins, but many observers agree that establishing a stronger connection on the radio could be one of the most important factors in unlocking Hamilton’s full potential in Ferrari colors.

With fresh leadership, renewed optimism, and a new voice guiding him from the pit wall, Hamilton will be aiming to turn promise into consistent results. For Ferrari, the hope is that improved communication behind the scenes will translate into stronger performances where it matters most—on the racetrack.