How will the dynamics within Ferrari change now that Lewis Hamilton is officially part of the team? Former engineer Rob Smedley, who worked for Scuderia from 2006 to 2013, believes the pairing of Charles Leclerc and Hamilton is reminiscent of the collaboration between Felipe Massa and Michael Schumacher. The Brit thinks this is a win-win situation for Ferrari.
As of 2025, Lewis Hamilton is officially a Ferrari driver and the new teammate of Charles Leclerc. Although the Brit has several world titles to his name, the Monegasque has more experience with the iconic Italian team. Former Ferrari engineer, Rob Smedley, finds the situation very reminiscent of another period in Scuderia’s history.
“It’s a completely different situation, but it’s like Felipe Massa in 2006 against Michael Schumacher,” Smedley draws the comparison in the Formula For Success podcast. “(Massa) was the apprentice and it was good that he was beaten by Michael, but towards the end of the year, he beat him in qualifying, and even in some races.”
Win-Win Situation
Smedley sees the line-up of Leclerc and Hamilton as a win-win situation for Ferrari. “You have a seven-time world champion, a young man who can learn from him and eventually become the cream of the crop,” says the former engineer. “He will give Charles a boost, as Charles is in a situation where he will feel a very different dynamic than what he felt, for example, with Carlos Sainz. They were two contemporaries, both in a similar stage of their career.”
