Enthusiasm in Maranello grows with Lewis Hamilton’s recent form, whom many Ferrari workers compare to the legendary Michael Schumacher. This has been stated by Rob Smedley, a former engineer for the team who was part of the staff during the Schumacher era.
After a complicated season with Ferrari in 2025, Hamilton has resurged this year with the new technical regulations of Formula 1. The British driver achieved his first victory with Ferrari at the Barcelona-Catalonia Grand Prix and has accumulated several podium finishes, currently sitting second in the drivers’ championship during his summer break.
Smedley, who spent ten years at Ferrari, expressed that Hamilton brings a fresh air to the team. ‘His presence empowers the group, and that generates more capacity within it,’ he commented on a podcast dedicated to the world of racing. It seems that Hamilton’s mentality and expectations have captivated staff members, who value his experience as a seven-time world champion.
Moreover, Smedley highlights that veteran workers, some with over two decades of history at Ferrari, recognize similar attributes between Hamilton and Schumacher. The latter joined Ferrari in 1996, contributing to transform the team, which hadn’t won a drivers’ championship since 1979 or a constructors’ championship since 1983. Schumacher helped Ferrari capture five of its seven titles between 2000 and 2004, as well as six constructors’ titles.
With Hamilton bringing a competitive spirit similar to Schumacher’s, expectations are growing among Ferrari fans to see how far this association can go during the rest of the season.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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