Lewis Hamilton’s relationship with his Ferrari race engineer Riccardo Adami has come under scrutiny from former driver Robert Doornbos, who has claimed that there is “no chemistry” between the two.
The seven-time Formula 1 champion joined Ferrari ahead of the 2025 season after a successful 12-year stint with Mercedes. Hamilton has taken some time to adjust to the new team and while he secured a sprint race victory in China, he is yet to celebrate on the podium in a grand prix.
Heading into the final four rounds of the season, Hamilton sits sixth in the drivers’ standings with 146 points, behind his team-mate Charles Leclerc in fifth with 210 points. While assessing Hamilton’s performance so far this season, Doornbos argued that the Briton’s relationship with his race engineer could be an issue.
“I think because there is just no chemistry between the engineer and the driver,” the former driver said during The Pit Talk Podcast. “The communication between Lewis and Ricky [Adami], his engineer, it just doesn’t feel like they’re switched on to each other.”
Doornbos claimed the handling of Hamilton’s penalty during the Mexico Grand Prix showed that they’re ‘not really on it’. Hamilton was handed a 10-second penalty in Mexico for “leaving the track and gaining a lasting advantage” during an intense battle with Red Bull driver Max Verstappen.
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Hector Vivas / Getty Images
The penalties during the race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez have been a popular talking point following the grand prix, with some arguing that Ferrari could have instructed Hamilton to close the gap behind him after he returned to the track in order to possibly avoid the penalty.
“It’s Ricky saying, ‘We’ve got a 10-second [penalty] because of this and this situation.’ Lewis said, ‘Yeah, but it was very difficult to stay on.’ We know Lewis. I don’t think they’re really on it,” Doornbos continued.
“If you want to be fighting for wins, championships, and podiums, you have to take every opportunity you can to maximise it.”
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