Rob Smedley, who spent a decade at Ferrari as a race engineer, told the High Performance Racing podcast that the Italian outfit is “over the moon” with Lewis Hamilton after his first Grand Prix victory for the Scuderia in Barcelona. The win caps a dramatic reversal from a winless 2025 season, where Hamilton endured multiple Q1 eliminations and fought for points in his debut year in red.
Hamilton’s recent form has been bolstered by a winter‑season reset, extensive behind‑the‑scenes work, and a new generation car he finds more enjoyable to drive. Back‑to‑back second‑place finishes in Canada and Monaco set the stage for the Barcelona triumph, secured with an aggressive three‑stop strategy in scorching heat. Smedley likened the momentum to a “Michael story,” referencing Michael Schumacher’s early‑2000s dominance, and said former colleagues are literally “putting him on a pedestal.”
Looking ahead, Smedley expects Hamilton’s trajectory to keep rising, even as teammate Charles Leclerc struggles to match the pace. He believes a more balanced driver performance will emerge later in the season, but Hamilton’s work ethic and emotional response have already reshaped his standing within Ferrari.
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