Hamilton’s New Partnership with Riccardo Adami at Ferrari and Verstappen Reflects on Red Bull’s 2024 Challenges
Lewis Hamilton is poised to start a new chapter at Ferrari, with Riccardo Adami, former race engineer for Carlos Sainz and Sebastian Vettel, set to be his new race engineer. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Adami will replace the long-time Mercedes engineer Peter Bonnington, who will remain with the Silver Arrows. Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari marks a significant shift in his career as he aims to challenge for more championships in the upcoming seasons. Adami’s experience with both Sainz and Vettel has made him highly regarded within the motorsport community, and his collaboration with Hamilton could be pivotal in shaping Ferrari’s competitive edge as the team pushes for more success.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen has shared his thoughts on Red Bull’s struggles during the 2024 Formula 1 season, admitting to feeling a mix of pride and relief after the team overcame a series of technical issues that plagued the RB20 car mid-season. The team faced unexpected setbacks throughout the year, which saw Verstappen endure a 10-race winless streak—an unusual and frustrating period for the dominant Red Bull driver. However, despite the challenges, Verstappen commended the team’s resilience and their ability to recover quickly.
Red Bull’s problems with the RB20 were first noticed in the middle of the season, leading to several issues with the car’s performance that left Verstappen unable to claim victories for a prolonged period. The streak of race results without a win was an unexpected hurdle, given Red Bull’s dominance in recent seasons. Verstappen, however, praised the team’s engineers and mechanics for their hard work in addressing these concerns and bringing the car back to its usual competitive standard. The team’s ability to overcome such a difficult phase, according to Verstappen, is a testament to Red Bull’s strength as a unit and the commitment of everyone involved.
With the technical issues behind them, Red Bull was able to secure its form towards the later part of the season, and Verstappen managed to reassert his dominance, adding to his impressive tally of race wins. Despite the adversity, the overall takeaway for Verstappen was one of pride, as he recognized how the team’s recovery was a testament to its capabilities and unity. For both Hamilton and Verstappen, the upcoming season promises to be an exciting new chapter, with both drivers facing fresh challenges that will test their skill and determination to succeed at the highest level of motorsport.
