Ferrari Retains Hamilton's Race Engineer; Audi RS26 Set for Barcelona Debut

Ferrari has reportedly decided to retain Riccardo Adami as Lewis Hamilton's race engineer for the 2026 season. The move signals a commitment to stability, despite their 2025 season being peppered with notable radio miscommunications. As Ferrari solidifies its driver support structure, Audi is set to achieve a major milestone with the first on-track run of its RS26 Formula 1 car.

Why it matters:

The Hamilton-Ferrari partnership is under immense pressure to deliver a title challenge immediately. Maintaining continuity in the driver-engineer relationship is seen as crucial for building the trust and communication needed to extract maximum performance.

• The decision to stick with Adami, despite public scrutiny over their radio exchanges, suggests Ferrari is prioritizing long-term integration over short-term headlines, betting that the pairing will mature and improve.
• For a seven-time world champion adapting to a new team, a stable and familiar voice on the radio can be an invaluable asset, especially during high-pressure race situations.
• Meanwhile, Audi's first shakedown is a significant procedural step, marking the transition from design and simulation to real-world on-track performance as the German manufacturer prepares for its F1 debut.

The details:

• Ferrari's Lineup: According to a GPblog exclusive, Riccardo Adami will continue as Hamilton's race engineer. Charles Leclerc's side of the garage is also expected to remain unchanged, ensuring continuity across both driver lineups.
• Audi's Shakedown: The Audi RS26 is set to make its on-track debut tomorrow during a filming day at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
• Regulatory Limits: The run will be limited to 200km and will use Pirelli's special demonstration tires, not the 2026-spec compounds, in accordance with F1's filming day rules.
• Official Launch: The shakedown precedes the car's official presentation scheduled for January 20 in Berlin, just ahead of the pre-season tests.

Looking Ahead:

All eyes will be on the driver-engineer radio communications during pre-season testing to see if the Hamilton-Adami pairing has found a smoother groove. For Audi, the Barcelona shakedown is a critical systems check before the real work begins at the official pre-season test later this month, where the RS26 will run alongside its rivals for the first time. These developments set the stage for a fascinating 2026 season, with Ferrari betting on stability to challenge for titles and Audi methodically ticking off boxes ahead of its highly anticipated grid entry.