Hamilton Solo at Ferrari: A Smedley Endorsement

Rob Smedley backs Hamilton’s bold move to join Ferrari without his usual engineering team, suggesting it could lead to success.

Rob Smedley, a former Ferrari engineer, is convinced that it’s a good thing Lewis Hamilton is not bringing engineers with him next year, including Peter Bonnington, his race engineer.

“When a seven-time world champion chooses your team to come and work with, I don’t think he needs to bring an entourage with him. I don’t think he should be accompanied by an entourage,” Smedley stated on the Formula for Success podcast.

“I’ve always said this, both for Lewis himself and for people like Bono. I think it’s a dangerous game to follow the driver everywhere, because if the driver falls out of favor or if the driver decides after a year it’s not for him, he can’t take the entourage with him. So I think Lewis has made the right decision.”

“He would obviously have the LH team around him, his management, trainers, and people like that. But I think trying to take engineers would have been a misstep. So I think the team will accept him. If you go there with a certain reputation, like Lewis’s for being able to deliver, the team will rally around him.”

Facing demanding tifosi and media, Hamilton will need to integrate and play for the team colors: “Lewis also needs to play his part. He definitely has to play his part in attaching himself and embracing the team culture, and not staying on the fringes of it. If he manages that, the players will adore him. Honestly, he will walk on water.”

“Ferrari will be able to improve their game by an additional one or two percent, because they will feel this confidence. This is a seven-time world champion coming into your team, who has chosen your team rather than a team he has worked with for, let’s say, his entire life.”

“And suddenly he moves away from all that and all that legacy, and he chooses you, you guys. That gives you a huge boost in confidence. If everyone works half a percent or one percent harder or smarter, then great things can happen.”

Despite Charles Leclerc’s excellent level, Smedley believes that the Monegasque will be dominated by Hamilton next year, whose adaptability will be a great asset in his new team.

“Lewis is a true professional. I think he knows how good Charles is, but he will also make sure to beat him over 24 races, or whatever. I think he will. I think there will come a time when he can no longer do it, but that time is certainly not now. He is so fit, he is so strong mentally.”

“I don’t want to talk about a lack of motivation, as that would be disrespectful to the player, but I think we have seen at times some frustration manifest, as he is not able to deliver on his promises as he did in the past, but there is no doubt about his passion and desire to win.”

Smedley is thus convinced that Hamilton will not be arriving at Scuderia as a conqueror, and that he will be ready to watch out for Leclerc.

“I don’t think Lewis is going to go to Ferrari and think he can beat Charles, because I don’t think he will be able to, because it won’t be that easy. But I think he will work very hard. I think he will work very hard. I think he will integrate into the team. And I think that is what will make the next step for Ferrari.”