Rob Smedley shares what will make Lewis Hamilton ‘absolutely thrive’ at Ferrari

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Formula 1 engineer Rob Smedley has shared what’s going to make Lewis Hamilton ‘thrive’ when he joins Ferrari in 2025.

Lewis Hamilton will be 40 when he joins the iconic Italian manufacturer and it’s likely to be his final move within Formula 1.

Speaking to Planet F1, Smedley explains what he needs to do for the Tifosi to love him and why he thinks he’ll succeed in Italy.

Smedley shares why he thinks Hamilton will succeed at Ferrari

Nobody saw Hamilton’s move to Ferrari coming despite the Brit being linked with a move to Maranello throughout his career.

He produced one of the most spectacular spells of domination in F1 history working with Mercedes over the past 10 years.

Max Verstappen is now emulating that success and in even more impression fashion and Hamilton’s desire to win a record eighth title has likely played into his thinking when deciding to leave Mercedes.

However, he is taking a risk given Ferrari haven’t won a championship in more than 15 years.

There’s a big rule change coming in 2026 that could offer Ferrari the chance to finally end their wait for a title.

Rob Smedley – who has previously worked at Ferrari – has shared what Hamilton will need to do to succeed in Italy.

The 39-year-old will be encouraged by the pace Frederic Vasseur’s team are showing at this early stage of the season.

Unfortunately, they’re still not on the same level as Red Bull.

Hamilton makes slow start to 2024 season after Saudi Arabia Grand Prix

Speaking about Hamilton’s future move, Smedley said: “That’s what the passion of the tifosi… that’s how it manifests itself. I think Lewis is a driver that will absolutely thrive in that environment.

“Okay, Red Bull took their foot off the gas as they put their efforts into 2024 but if you looked at the gap, especially in qualifying again, in Bahrain, they’re right there.

“Whether or not Lewis in a Ferrari today could take it to Max in a Red Bull, that’s a different question. But he hasn’t won seven World Championships by being lucky.

“He’s done it because he is one of the all-time greats. I think somebody like Lewis can give Ferrari those extra one or two percentage points – that’s all they need.

“He has a duty to himself and to his employer, to embed himself as much as he can, to integrate himself into the community.

“If he can learn to speak a little bit of Italian, they will absolutely adore him for it. But whatever he puts in – if he puts 100 per cent in, he’ll get 100 per cent back.”

Hamilton will be taking Smedley’s advice before his move to Ferrari and he might wish he could head to Italy sooner rather than later.

He had another tough race in Saudi Arabia, attempting an alternative strategy and only scoring a couple of points.

Hamilton admitted his Mercedes was ‘miles off’ its rivals in one key area in Jeddah and already it looks like he might go another season without a race win.