Former Ferrari race engineer Rob Smedley has advocated for the Scuderia to fully commit to Lewis Hamilton in the ongoing 2026 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship battle. Smedley’s comments follow a strategic discussion after the recent British Grand Prix, where Hamilton secured a podium finish.
Hamilton currently sits third in the drivers’ standings with 147 points, 32 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes. Charles Leclerc, Hamilton’s Ferrari teammate, is fourth with 108 points.
Speaking on the ‘High Performance Racing’ podcast, Smedley, who previously worked with Ferrari from 2004 to 2013, suggested that an extreme measure is necessary.
‘I am going to go against my own logic and say that I think something as extreme as that is the only chance Ferrari has to win this world championship,’ Smedley stated.
He further elaborated on the strategic imperative, highlighting the risk of internal competition. Smedley believes that allowing both Ferrari drivers to race freely with a significant points difference between Hamilton and Leclerc would diminish their title prospects.
The 2026 British Grand Prix at Silverstone saw Charles Leclerc claim victory for Ferrari, marking his first Grand Prix win since 2024. Hamilton finished third, securing his fifth podium of the season.
Kimi Antonelli, who leads the championship for Mercedes, experienced a setback at Silverstone. He suffered a front wheel shield failure on Lap 41, causing him to drop from second place to 16th.
During the British Grand Prix, a late Safety Car period, triggered by Max Verstappen’s crash on Lap 48, presented a strategic dilemma. Ferrari opted to pit both Hamilton and Leclerc for soft tyres.
George Russell, Antonelli’s Mercedes teammate, remained on track and ultimately finished second. Hamilton expressed frustration with Ferrari’s decision, suggesting it cost him a higher finishing position.
Ferrari’s SF-26 car has shown strong performance this season, particularly with its chassis and impressive race starts. However, the team acknowledges a power unit deficit of approximately 30 horsepower compared to Mercedes.
Mercedes currently leads the Constructors’ Championship with 333 points, while Ferrari is second with 255 points. Mercedes has secured seven victories from the nine races held so far this season.
Hamilton joined Ferrari for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, with an option for 2027. He secured his maiden Grand Prix victory for the Scuderia earlier this season at the Barcelona Grand Prix.
Ferrari has not won a Constructors’ Championship since 2008, nor a Drivers’ Championship since Kimi Raikkonen’s title in 2007.
Fred Vasseur, Ferrari Team Principal, has indicated that discussions regarding a contract extension for Hamilton beyond 2026 are not currently a priority.
