Rob Smedley to Williams.

[AfterLife]

Not race engineer of Felipe Massa but the bigger role :lou

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112640

[racingbradley]

It's great news but why does he have to wait until April. I thought he would join at the beginning of the season :-??

[fronaldo]

Gardening leave maybe?

[Greig]

Sad to see him go, shame we could not offer him a position that suited him rather than going to Williams.

Good luck Rob :-)

[AfterLife]

Sad to see him go, shame we could not offer him a position that suited him rather than going to Williams.

Actually it is a good question!

and i think this season will be a deciding season for some technical members to stay or to leave the Scuderia Ferrari.

[Suzie]

Williams do seem to be on a mission recruiting staff and getting sponsors. Hope it works out for them although it could take a few seasons for it all to gel.

[Giallo 550]

Best of luck to Rob. I wish him only the best.

[Rishu]

So what would be his new job description? Head of Vehicle performance sounds technical, so does that mean working on car set-ups etc.?

[impactX]

Wonder how much he knows about the F14T...

[Gerhard Berger]

Wonder how much he knows about the F14T...

not a great deal, since he was a race engineer with us, and not part of the design team.

[Senna4Ever]

Sad to see him go, shame we could not offer him a position that suited him rather than going to Williams.

Good luck Rob :-)

Same what I thought so far,
but we even don't know if it was his wish to leave Ferrari anyway - no matter which position Ferrari might have offered him.
But no doubt he will do well at Williams ... thinking about the style Rob talked to Felipe and how this would have worked with Kimi makes me ;-) ...

[Suzie]

So what would be his new job description? Head of Vehicle performance sounds technical, so does that mean working on car set-ups etc.?

He will be in charge of the race engineers and be the go-between between the race team and the guys back at the factory apparently.

[Rishu]

He will be in charge of the race engineers and be the go-between between the race team and the guys back at the factory apparently.

I see. Thanks my friend :)

[Hornet]

Best wishes to Rob.


Williams do seem to be on a mission recruiting staff and getting sponsors. Hope it works out for them although it could take a few seasons for it all to gel.
True, they seem to be shaping up to be a strong contender again. Though I can't say I agree with their winter testing approach putting their test or reserve drivers while their actual driver need those lap with the new car.

[wisepie]

Best wishes to Rob.


True, they seem to be shaping up to be a strong contender again. Though I can't say I agree with their winter testing approach putting their test or reserve drivers while their actual driver need those lap with the new car.

My sentiments exactly, Hornet, but I wish Rob every success and hope that we get to hear his dulcet tones at some stage during the season. I'm sure Felipe will be encouraged to have Rob behind the scenes and offering him support.:thumb

[Red_Diamond]

It was obvious after 2010, Smedley had no future at Ferrari. Quite surprised Ferrari kept him on for so long.

[wisepie]

It was obvious after 2010, Smedley had no future at Ferrari. Quite surprised Ferrari kept him on for so long.

Why exactly? Have I missed something? I reckon Rob is more talented than you're giving him credit for and that's why Ferrari kept him.

[Red_Diamond]

Why exactly? Have I missed something? I reckon Rob is more talented than you're giving him credit for and that's why Ferrari kept him.

Talented in running away with his mouth and getting Ferrari into trouble.

[Forzi]

Why exactly? Have I missed something? I reckon Rob is more talented than you're giving him credit for and that's why Ferrari kept him.

Would guess he was talking about the lil "sorry" at the end of his message at Germany 2010. Still, he's one awesome race engineer, that's why he was kept. Would even say it's a loss to Ferrari.

[Forzi]

Talented in running away with his mouth and getting Ferrari into trouble.

No need to get harsh. He is a great and talented race engineer that knows well how to work with a driver. One of the very few race engineers loved and known by many even not Ferrari fans. A small "sorry" that in the end didn't do much harm to Ferrari should not make his achievements as a good race engineer disappear.

[Greig]

Talented in running away with his mouth and getting Ferrari into trouble.

Yeah cause nobody would have noticed otherwise, Ferrari got themselves into trouble.

[REDARMYSOJA]

Massa and Smedley at my 2nd favorite team. This worked out well for me.

[mirafiori]

I think it is sad the way some of you are still crying with the departure of Massa and now Smedley, I appreciate the work and loyalty over the years that these two ex employees have done for Ferrari but the truth is they have gone. and we now have kimi who I back 100% and don't care about Massa or Smedley who for me now is the enemy. I only support and care for Ferrari, if Ferrari don't win and Massa wins the race instead it will not make me feel any better.

[Greig]

I think it is sad the way some of you are still crying with the departure of Massa and now Smedley, I appreciate the work and loyalty over the years that these two ex employees have done for Ferrari but the truth is they have gone. and we now have kimi who I back 100% and don't care about Massa or Smedley who for me now is the enemy. I only support and care for Ferrari, if Ferrari don't win and Massa wins the race instead it will not make me feel any better.

Who is crying?

And why do you feel the need to tell others how they should feel?

[Suzie]

I think it is sad the way some of you are still crying with the departure of Massa and now Smedley, I appreciate the work and loyalty over the years that these two ex employees have done for Ferrari but the truth is they have gone. and we now have kimi who I back 100% and don't care about Massa or Smedley who for me now is the enemy. I only support and care for Ferrari, if Ferrari don't win and Massa wins the race instead it will not make me feel any better.

Well don't you seem like the sentimental type ;-)

[zakfourie]

Is Chris Dyer still with the Scuderia?

Who will be KR's race engineer again?

[Senna4Ever]

Is Chris Dyer still with the Scuderia?


Are you joking???? He (got?) left Scuderia 2010.
He's working for BMW in German TDM series since 2013 ...

[Suzie]

Is Chris Dyer still with the Scuderia?

Who will be KR's race engineer again?

He was 2010's scapegoat ;-)

Antonio Spagnolo is Kimi's race engineer this year.

[shamim179]

Shame to see him leaving. He was well regarded as a race engineer. Massa was very compatible with Rob. That pairing will be missed but there comes a time where you just have to move on with things.

[Alonsomaniac]

Well don't you seem like the sentimental type ;-)

Oops,.....then I am....I wouldn't mind at all to see "Felipe baby" win a race or two, as long as we clinch the championship of course :lol

[Nero Horse]

Oops,.....then I am....I wouldn't mind at all to see "Felipe baby" win a race or two, as long as we clinch the championship of course :lol

If for example Alonso and Kimi don't have a chance to win in some race and Felipe does then I'll definitely be rooting for Felipe to snatch a victory in front of our other rivals. ;-)

[abbottcostello]

If for example Alonso and Kimi don't have a chance to win in some race and Felipe does then I'll definitely be rooting for Felipe to snatch a victory in front of our other rivals. ;-)

Properly stated, my friend! When we are comfortably ahead in the WDC & WCC races, it would be fine if he pinched a win. After all, barring a massive improvement by Williams, he would be taking points away from the contenders that might be nipping at our heels.

[wisepie]

I think it is sad the way some of you are still crying with the departure of Massa and now Smedley, I appreciate the work and loyalty over the years that these two ex employees have done for Ferrari but the truth is they have gone. and we now have kimi who I back 100% and don't care about Massa or Smedley who for me now is the enemy. I only support and care for Ferrari, if Ferrari don't win and Massa wins the race instead it will not make me feel any better.

No need to be quite so dismissive of ex-Ferrari team members, mirafiori, you're entitled to your opinion and I hope Kimi lives up to your expectations. Enemy or not, I wish them both well, and it breaks my heart to have to support anything other than Ferrari. So there.

[mirafiori]

No need to be quite so dismissive of ex-Ferrari team members, mirafiori, you're entitled to your opinion and I hope Kimi lives up to your expectations. Enemy or not, I wish them both well, and it breaks my heart to have to support anything other than Ferrari. So there.
For me i say thank you and I appreciate the work Massa and Smedley have done over the years but we now have different staff working at Ferrari, as I say Massa will be the enemy, I only support Ferrari and don't care about the rest. If Ferrari don't win and Massa wins instead it will not make me feel any better.

[wisepie]

For me i say thank you and I appreciate the work Massa and Smedley have done over the years but we now have different staff working at Ferrari, as I say Massa will be the enemy, I only support Ferrari and don't care about the rest. If Ferrari don't win and Massa wins instead it will not make me feel any better.
I understand what you're saying and I only ever support Ferrari too, but will make an exception for these ex-Ferrari team members because they got under my skin and they also deserve success. Wouldn't you rather a Massa win than a Vettel or Hamilton win? I know I would.

[mirafiori]

I understand what you're saying and I only ever support Ferrari too, but will make an exception for these ex-Ferrari team members because they got under my skin and they also deserve success. Wouldn't you rather a Massa win than a Vettel or Hamilton win? I know I would.
Of course I would, don't get me wrong after Ferrari you can only lean towards ex Ferrari personnel and yes Massa every time over the rest except our current Ferrari team. I will never forget the loyalty Massa has given to Ferrari and I believe Ferrari has stuck by Massa as well, but we have had 6 months of chit chat about Massa and I think it is time we all move on and get behind our two current drivers. Unfortunately Massa as I have said is the enemy ( Opposition ) but I will always remember Filipe Massa the real 2008 world drivers champion.:thumb

[Liscia]

The page has followed the knight - best of luck to them both but they
must not win jousts against our proponents on the cavallino nero!

[wisepie]

Of course I would, don't get me wrong after Ferrari you can only lean towards ex Ferrari personnel and yes Massa every time over the rest except our current Ferrari team. I will never forget the loyalty Massa has given to Ferrari and I believe Ferrari has stuck by Massa as well, but we have had 6 months of chit chat about Massa and I think it is time we all move on and get behind our two current drivers. Unfortunately Massa as I have said is the enemy ( Opposition ) but I will always remember Filipe Massa the real 2008 world drivers champion.:thumb
Va bene mirafiori, I give in and I will agree with you on this post, but I will never stop being a Massabot and the Forza Felipe thread was kept going for us......if he beats us, then it might get banned!

[zakfourie]

Are you joking???? He (got?) left Scuderia 2010.
He's working for BMW in German TDM series since 2013 ...

No!!!! Was asking. Thought that might be obvious... :thumb

[mirafiori]

Va bene mirafiori, I give in and I will agree with you on this post, but I will never stop being a Massabot and the Forza Felipe thread was kept going for us......if he beats us, then it might get banned!

At the end of the day I believe all we want is to see our team return to the top. Take care.:thumb

[wisepie]

At the end of the day I believe all we want is to see our team return to the top. Take care.:thumb

That goes without saying, mirafiori, but how much longer do we have to wait? It's becoming very painful! Cheers!

[mirafiori]

That goes without saying, mirafiori, but how much longer do we have to wait? It's becoming very painful! Cheers!

I really hope the hurt ends this year, for me personally it is a massive part of my life, I know we don't have an automatic right to win but it is time for the team and us to win again.:thumb

[giodap]

I really hope the hurt ends this year, for me personally it is a massive part of my life, I know we don't have an automatic right to win but it is time for the team and us to win again.:thumb

do you still go to bed at night with that life size cut out of luca di? :-D

[mirafiori]

do you still go to bed at night with that life size cut out of luca di? :-D

No I have moved on, and the counseling I have received has helped me a lot but I still have the Ferrari quilt with matching Pillow covers. One step at a time.

[wisepie]

Oh dear, I thought I had a problem with a Massa cap hanging in the kitchen and a framed photo on the toilet wall (along with other important people in my life, I should add, I call it the chamber of horrors), but going to bed pretending to be in a Ferrari makes me feel quite sane. Each to his or her own, of course. And I'm sure you're joking too.:lol