Lewis Hamilton reaches out to ex-F1 world champion before making key Ferrari decision ahead of first test
Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton will be driving for Ferrari in the forthcoming season after his departure from Mercedes last year - and he has already sought advice from one of his former rivals.
Hamilton's seventh place in the championship last year was the lowest of his F1 career and the 40-year-old Englishman will view his switch to Ferrari as a chance to push both parties back towards the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships.
Ferrari haven't topped the constructor rankings since 2006 but finished a close second in 2024. With Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at the wheel, the team are confident they can go one better in 2025.
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Hamilton moved to Ferrari without race engineer Peter Bonnington. The long-awaited appointment of Riccardo Adami as Hamilton's race engineer at Ferrari has now been confirmed, as per Autoracer, and the former world champion sought the counsel of an old rival before Adami's position was rubber-stamped ahead of his first test.
The Italian is a Maranello stalwart. He was the race engineer for Carlos Sainz, who finished fifth last season in what is now Hamilton's seat, and worked closely with four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel before he departed Ferrari for Aston Martin after the 2020 season.
Hamilton reportedly discussed Adami's abilities with Vettel before the Scuderia team finalised the all-important partnership.
"I would have loved to have continued with Bono, of course," said Hamilton to Sky Sports F1 last year when asked about Bonnington, who was promoted to become Mercedes' Head of Race Engineering.
"We have a great relationship and you heard it at Silverstone, he's like a brother. But I'm really, really happy for him. For me, I think it's just about people doing whatever's best for you."
Hamilton will link up with Adami instead and is said to have been given a glowing endorsement by retired former champion Vettel.
"[Adami is] one of those who represents the values of Ferrari, if the brand is unique it’s because there are people like that in Maranello," said Vettel when asked at the time whether Adami would be leaving Ferrari with him ahead of his 2020 departure.
Italian F1 journalist Giuliano Duchessa reported that Hamilton and Vettel had spoken about Adami, who delivered 14 race wins with Vettel at Ferrari but found Hamilton himself a significant obstacle in the way of more.
Topics: Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Formula 1
Chris Nee