Hamilton's Ferrari Engineer Move Questioned, Verstappen's Nurburgring Plans Shift, and More F1 Updates

The timing of Ferrari's announcement regarding Lewis Hamilton's race engineer change has raised eyebrows, while Max Verstappen's desire to race at the Nürburgring has forced a calendar shift. Meanwhile, Aston Martin and Honda celebrate a pivotal first test, and Lando Norris sets his sights on a second title.

Why it matters:

These stories highlight the off-track maneuvering and preseason preparations that set the stage for the Formula 1 season. From key personnel changes affecting a superstar's integration at a new team to engine manufacturers solidifying new partnerships, these developments can have significant ripple effects on the competitive order once the racing begins.

The details:

• Hamilton's Engineer Shift: Sky Sports F1 pundit Karun Chandhok questioned the timing of Ferrari's January 16th announcement that Riccardo Adami would no longer be Lewis Hamilton's race engineer. Adami has been moved to head Ferrari's young driver and historic testing programs after reportedly failing to build an effective working relationship with Hamilton during their initial phase.
• Verstappen's Nürburgring Influence: Max Verstappen's instructor, who also organizes a racing series at the Nürburgring, issued an apology after the driver's participation plans forced a date change. Verstappen expressed interest in competing in the 24-hour race but wanted a preparation event, which conflicted with the F1 calendar. This led to the rescheduling of a preparatory race that was originally set for the Japanese Grand Prix weekend.
• Honda-Aston Martin Milestone: Honda's trackside chief, Shintaro Orihara, labeled the recent five-day test in Barcelona a "pivotal moment" for its new works partnership with Aston Martin. The test marked the first track action for the newly aligned team and engine manufacturer.
• Ocon Laughs Off Injury Rumors: Esteban Ocon dismissed speculation that he was using crutches at Haas's Barcelona shakedown, calling the rumors "a bit of an insult." The team completed a successful test with the third-highest lap count of any squad.
• Norris Eyes Title Defense: Reigning world champion Lando Norris stated he is fully motivated and ready to push for a second consecutive drivers' title, dismissing any notion that he needed to re-find motivation after his maiden 2025 championship win.
• Horner's Comeback Talks: Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner revealed the extensive nature of his talks to return to F1, stating he has spoken to "every team on the grid" since his departure midway through last season.

What's next:

All eyes now turn to the official preseason test in Bahrain, where the new Honda-Aston Martin partnership and all other team dynamics will be put under a more intense spotlight. Hamilton's working relationship with his new Ferrari engineer will be closely scrutinized, while the actual performance of teams like Haas and McLaren will begin to translate testing data into competitive reality.