Lewis Hamilton's overhaul intensifies: key staff departures threaten his team

Lewis Hamilton's attempt to salvage his Ferrari career faces fresh turbulence as the seven-time world champion experiences a significant staff exodus just weeks before the 2026 season begins on March 8th in Melbourne. The departures of key personnel underscore the magnitude of the restructuring underway at Scuderia Ferrari as Hamilton seeks redemption following a catastrophic inaugural campaign with the Prancing Horse.

The timing of these exits could hardly be worse, arriving when Hamilton desperately requires stability and a cohesive support structure to execute what many view as a final attempt to resurrect his championship ambitions.

A double exit: Hynes and Yeboah leave the camp

The most significant departure involves manager Marc Hynes, with whom Hamilton is parting ways for the second time. Hynes, a former British Formula Three champion who first collaborated with Hamilton from 2015 until 2021, was brought back into the fold for the 2025 season as chief executive of 'Project 44'. The split is reportedly amicable and conducted on friendly terms, though industry insiders suggest Hamilton initiated the restructure following his disappointing first year at Ferrari.

Hynes is now Cadillac-bound, joining F1's newest American franchise for 2026, with his LinkedIn profile reflecting his new position managing Zhou Guanyu's representation. Alongside Hynes's departure, press officer Ella Yeboah has also exited Hamilton's inner circle, with her tenure at Lewis Hamilton Ventures ending in January 2026 after joining as trackside PR manager in November 2024.

The ripple effect: race engineer turmoil and uncertainty

The staff departures extend beyond management and communications, as Riccardo Adami—Hamilton's race engineer and frequent subject of contentious radio exchanges during 2025—stepped down from his trackside role. The tension between Adami and Hamilton dominated much of the discourse surrounding the Brit's podium-less campaign, with the engineer's reallocation to Ferrari's driver academy and test program representing an acknowledgment of the fractured working relationship.

No official replacement has been confirmed, though McLaren's Cedric Michel-Grosjean, Oscar Piastri's former performance engineer, is widely tipped to assume the position. Hamilton currently shares team-mate Charles Leclerc's engineer Bryan Bozzi during pre-season testing, adding another layer of uncertainty to his operational setup.

Concerning uncertainty rings alarm bells

The cascading departures have triggered genuine concern within the paddock. Sky Sports F1 pundit Karun Chandhok warned that "alarm bells are ringing" at Ferrari, reflecting anxiety about the disjointed state of Hamilton's support team mere weeks before competitive action resumes. The absence of confirmations for replacements—with neither Hynes nor Yeboah positions formally filled—compounds fears that Hamilton remains organizationally adrift just as the championship season looms.

Angela Cullen, Hamilton's physiotherapist and long-time confidant, remains the one steady presence, providing continuity within an otherwise turbulent reorganization.

The desperately disappointing 2025 campaign

The urgency of this restructuring cannot be overstated given Hamilton's catastrophic 2025 season. The British driver endured a podium-less campaign, finishing sixth in the drivers' championship—86 points behind team-mate Charles Leclerc and a staggering 267 points adrift of world champion Lando Norris. Hamilton himself labeled 2025 "the worst season ever," a damning assessment from a seven-time world champion.

The 2022-2025 generation of ground-effect cars fundamentally conflicted with Hamilton's preferred driving style. His trademark aggressive braking and sharp turning—"V-ing" into corners—proved incompatible with the "U-turn" approach required by that generation's aerodynamic characteristics.

Barcelona pre-season testing optimism

Despite the institutional chaos, Hamilton has delivered encouraging signals during pre-season testing. He posted the fastest time during Barcelona's private five-day shakedown, signaling a potential resurgence. More significantly, Hamilton suggested the new 2026 regulation-era cars suit his driving methodology far better than their predecessors.

"The car generation is actually a little bit more fun to drive—it is oversteery, snappy and sliding, but it is easier to catch," Hamilton explained. "In terms of understanding the car and the balance, we have a lot less downforce than in previous years." He characterized the experience as enjoyable, revealing the return of qualities he previously enjoyed.

Continuity versus change

Hamilton's restructuring represents a bold gamble—ruthlessly severing arrangements that failed to deliver while simultaneously building fresh operational frameworks intended to reignite his competitiveness. Whether this institutional upheaval solidifies into a cohesive unit capable of exploiting the more forgiving 2026 regulations remains the paramount question.

The Australian Grand Prix on March 8th will provide the first definitive answer.