F1 Driver Chemistry Fails: Hamilton & Adami Split

Former F1 race engineer Rob Smedley has commented on the critical importance of chemistry between drivers and their race engineers, using Lewis Hamilton's 2025 season at Ferrari as a prime example. The partnership between Hamilton and Riccardo Adami reportedly suffered from a lack of synergy throughout the year.

Smedley, who previously engineered for Felipe Massa at Ferrari, stressed that race engineers must possess strong technical knowledge. He observed that when a driver like Hamilton asks a question, a delayed or uncertain response from the engineer can foster doubt and erode trust, especially at high speeds.

This dynamic led to a change, with the team announcing in early 2026 that Hamilton's association with Adami would conclude. Smedley drew parallels to other sports, likening the race engineer's role to a head coach, essential for optimizing performance and understanding the driver as an athlete.

Ferrari faces a situation requiring a long-term solution for Hamilton's race engineer role. Following Adami's departure, a part-time replacement will fill the position for a few races before a permanent successor arrives.