F1 news round-up: Hamilton-Adami set to roll on, SF-25 gets the red card, and a shock Lambiase whisper
Boxing Day may be in the rear-view mirror, but the paddock isn’t done unwrapping presents. Here’s what’s been moving in F1 as December winds down.
Hamilton-Adami pairing poised to continue at Ferrari
The most closely listened-to radio channel in F1 looks set to keep the same voices. After a first season at Ferrari that rarely felt comfortable from the cockpit or the pit wall, reports suggest Lewis Hamilton will stick with race engineer Riccardo Adami into 2026.
It’s no secret there were some spiky exchanges this year as Hamilton learned a new language—the Ferrari one—and the SF-25 refused to cooperate. But a “very positive” sit-down between driver and engineer has apparently smoothed the edges and, crucially, pointed to continuity. Ferrari have bigger fish to fry with a rules reset around the corner; changing the person in Hamilton’s ear isn’t at the top of the list.
As ever, the logic is simple: if the chemistry’s improving, don’t start over in an era when stability wins you time and time wins you races.
Ferrari’s SF-25 gets consigned to the bad place
You won’t find many tifosi arguing with the verdict on this year’s red car. The SF-25 will not be fondly remembered, and that’s putting it politely. With Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at the wheel, it didn’t land a single grand prix win, a statistic that stings any year in Maranello colors.
The post-mortem has been unflinching. The car never found a consistent operating window, never inspired confidence on Sundays, and never gave its drivers the sort of platform Ferrari expects as a baseline. You can admire the effort without romanticizing the result: this was a miss. The upside? There’s clarity now. The SF-25 goes on the shelf marked “lessons learned,” and 2026 development gets to start with a clean conscience.
Lambiase linked with Aston Martin in a shock step up
File this one under “spicy.” Gianpiero Lambiase—Max Verstappen’s long-time right-hand man on the Red Bull pit wall—has been linked with a senior move to Aston Martin, with whispers of a team principal or CEO-level role attached.
If it sounds like a leap, that’s because it is. But few engineers in the modern era have curated such a complete racecraft package with a driver as Lambiase has with Verstappen. He knows how to manage pace, risk, tyres, and temperament over 300 kilometers. That’s a skill set any team would love upstairs, especially one with Aston’s ambition and resources.
Would Verstappen’s trusted engineer swap the garage headset for the corner office? Stranger things have happened in F1. The implications would be seismic, whichever way you slice it.
Bortoleto leaned on Verstappen for junior contract calls
Max Verstappen’s influence doesn’t stop at a purple sector. He’s long had a close relationship with Gabriel Bortoleto, and the Brazilian admits he often tapped Verstappen for advice when contract decisions landed on his desk as a junior—right down to calls on academy deals.
It’s a window into how interconnected this paddock is. Drivers who’ve seen the traps help steer the next wave around them. In Bortoleto’s case, it underlines how highly he’s rated within the current guard—and how carefully his path has been laid.
Mercedes W16: the quiet burn
While others swung wildly at mid-season upgrades, Mercedes took a more spaced-out approach with the W16, stretching development in digestible steps. The car itself didn’t always grab headlines, but the concept work mattered. As the sport stares down a major regulation reset, that measured, iterative mindset is valuable—less fireworks, more foundation.
Under the skin, the W16 offered a glimpse of where the team believes performance will come from in the next cycle: efficiency, drivability, and a better understanding of how to make their aero platform robust across track types. It’s the sort of homework that doesn’t trend now, but pays later.
The state of play
The calendar’s about to flip, launch season is peeking over the horizon, and the to-do lists are long. Ferrari will try to turn the page with a calm driver-engineer unit and a car that behaves. Aston Martin might be considering a bold boardroom play. Mercedes are banking steady gains. And a new generation continues to weave itself into the sport with guidance from the very top.
If December’s chatter is any guide, 2026 prep has already started everywhere you look. On this grid, standing still is the fastest way to go backwards.
