Ferrari Must Support Hamilton in Title Fight, Says Rob Smedley
Ferrari’s uneasy balance between two star drivers has been dragged into the spotlight again, with former engineer Rob Smedley insisting the team must now throw its support behind Lewis Hamilton if it wants to shape this year’s title race.
The flashpoint came at the Dutch Grand Prix. Hamilton, running an alternative strategy, grew audibly frustrated on team radio as he sat behind Charles Leclerc and urged Ferrari to move the Monegasque out of his way. It wasn’t just a heated moment in the cockpit; it was a snapshot of a deeper question inside Maranello: who does Ferrari really back when the championship picture tightens?
Smedley, speaking on the High Performance Racing Podcast, left no room for ambiguity. As he sees it, the team has a clear obligation.
“As hard as that is for Charles and the team that sits on that side of the garage with Charles and all the rest of it, they all work for Ferrari,” he said, underlining that individual loyalties cannot override the bigger objective.
From Smedley’s vantage point, Hamilton has earned the right to be the reference point.
“Lewis has had the better run and done the better job. And I think if they're going to steal points from Mercedes, they're going to do that as a team,” he argued.
That, in his mind, means one thing: when Ferrari has a car capable of winning, the strategy must be built around Hamilton. No half-measures. No internal duel that costs them points.
“They haven't got the best car consistently, but they have on occasions got the best car, and they're going to make it count then, and they're going to make sure that Lewis wins. On all the other occasions, they're just going to make sure that they maximize Lewis' points.”
The message is blunt. Ferrari, often criticised in recent years for muddled calls and split priorities, cannot afford romantic notions of absolute equality if it wants to influence the destination of the title.
“This is just about doing what is the sensible thing for the team and trying to maximize Ferrari's position in the world championship,” Smedley concluded.
Hamilton’s situation in the standings only sharpens that argument. He is locked level on points with former teammate George Russell, both chasing a sizeable gap to championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who sits 59 points clear. If Ferrari wants to drag itself into that conversation, Smedley believes it must rally behind the driver he feels is best placed to do the damage.
The next strategic call on the pit wall will reveal whether Ferrari agrees.
Piquet’s heartfelt message to daughter Penelope draws Verstappen’s support
Away from the noise of the paddock and the intensity of the title fight, a very different kind of emotion surfaced on social media.
Instead of details, Piquet focused on what motherhood has taught her and on the bond with her daughter, writing at length about listening, protecting and nurturing Penelope’s sensitivity.
She addressed her directly, with a promise and a wish.
“My P, I will always listen to you, stand up for you, protect your gentleness, and remind you that your feelings matter. I hope your seventh year brings you the peace, freedom, and carefree joy that every little girl deserves.”
It was a rare public glimpse behind the curtain of a life usually seen through the filtered lens of race weekends and podium ceremonies, and one that quickly drew support from Verstappen and fans alike.
In a sport driven by tenths of a second and ruthless decisions, the post was a reminder that, for all the pressure and politics, the people at the heart of Formula 1 live through the same fragile, human moments as everyone else.
