Rob Smedley Criticizes 'We'll Get Back to You' Race Engineer Mentality, Analyzes Hamilton's Ferrari Switch

Former Ferrari race engineer Rob Smedley has highlighted a critical flaw in some driver-engineer relationships, criticizing the tendency to delay answering a driver's questions as damaging to trust and performance. His comments come amid analysis of Lewis Hamilton's ongoing adjustment at Ferrari, including the switch from his initial race engineer, Riccardo Adami.

Why it matters:

The race engineer is a driver's primary point of contact during a session, acting as a crucial performance coach and technical translator. A breakdown in this relationship, marked by hesitation or a lack of immediate answers, can directly undermine a driver's confidence and focus while operating at the limit, potentially costing precious tenths on track.

The details:

• Smedley, who worked closely with Felipe Massa at Ferrari, described the race engineer's role as a 50/50 split between technical mastery and human understanding of the athlete in the car.
• He pointed to a specific 2025 radio exchange where Hamilton joked that Adami should "make a cup of tea" while waiting for a response as a sign of a "fledgling" and potentially unhealthy relationship where "frustrations are boiling over."
• The Core Criticism: Smedley stated it "pains" him to hear an engineer say "we'll get back to you," emphasizing that immediate, confident answers are essential. "This isn't a call center," he noted. "The driver is trying to perform at 10/10 while driving at 200mph. Answer him and give him confidence."
• He argued that repeated moments of hesitation erode trust and create tension, hindering the partnership's effectiveness.
• Smedley acknowledged Adami's successful career and previous strong relationship with Sebastian Vettel, who recommended him to Hamilton, but compared the situation to his own initial struggles with Massa in 2006, stating "if it doesn't gel, it doesn't work."

The big picture:

Hamilton's move to Ferrari was always going to involve a significant adaptation period, with the driver-engineer dynamic being a key component. While Adami has been moved to another role within the team for 2026, Smedley's analysis underscores a universal principle in F1: the need for seamless, trust-based communication at the heart of a winning team. The search for Hamilton's new full-time engineer will be closely watched, as finding the right technical and personal fit is paramount for Ferrari's championship ambitions.