Google News Rob Smedley aims at Lewis Hamilton: Schumacher never complained when things got tough
by SEAD DEDOVIC | VIEW 438
Michael Schumacher had many great moments in his career, but of course, like everyone else, there were also less beautiful ones. Ex-F1 engineer Rob Smedley recalled moments from Schumacher's career when he was part of the Ferrari team.
At certain moments, the German faced huge problems. However, he never publicly criticized the team and the engineers. Speaking to the Sky Sports F1 Podcast, Smedley talked about exactly that; “Michael through all the difficult times.
I never saw him once even privately complain about individuals or complain in a way that wasn’t creating what I call a positive conflict,” Smedley said, as quoted by crash.net "That it wasn't a positive critique to say we have got a problem let's just be transparent about this problem but let's all head in this direction.
He had complete trust in the technical team and that trust was borne out so when he did have to ride out the troughs he was there as a motivating factor and helping the team. Saying ‘it’s alright I trust in you, I know you’ll produce a good car’.
And eventually we did produce good cars, we did produce cars which were worthy of winning world championships”.
Rob Smedley on 'difficult' moments of the team
With this recollection, Smedley probably wanted to send a message to Lewis Hamilton, given that the Brit often criticized his team and car.
Smedley believes that the strength of a team is best reflected when things are not going great for you. “When we were winning 15 of the 17 races or whatever, to talk well about it and to say how great the culture was, and how great we all were, slapping ourselves on the back every five minutes - it’s easy.
Once you get into those difficult periods that’s when you see the true character of the team and the individuals come out. The drivers have a key part to play in that. After a year of difficulties, or a period, you shouldn’t turn on the team and tell them it’s all their fault.
It’s unfair. The team has to supply the drivers - the top three, four drivers in F1 - they have to be supplied with a great car but you have to have a level of realism in that as well that you can’t have the best car in every single grand prix, ever single year, it’s just not possible.
Look at what Mercedes is going through this year and last year. At some point, somebody hungrier and better will come along and produce a faster car”.
