Rob Smedley
Encyclopedia
Rob Smedley is a race engineer for Formula One
driver Felipe Massa
at Scuderia Ferrari
.
Smedley's radio transmissions to Massa have even achieved cult status, with many Ferrari fans putting his messages on their mobile phones as ringtones.
until he was 18, before going to Loughborough University
and beginning his rise through the ranks in motorsport. He initially studied a degree in mathematics and mechanical engineering, before going onto complete a master's degree
.
With his main field of activity in chassis
engineering, he began with Peugeot
in 1997
where he worked as a suspension
design engineer for the touring car
team. He then went on to work in Formula 3000 and the Williams touring car team before making his first foray into Formula One with the Jordan Grand Prix
team.
Initially at Jordan, Smedley worked as a data acquisition
engineer, overviewing all of the telemetric
data that was used by the team's race engineer to support the racing driver. During 2002 and 2003 he went on to be a track engineer for Jordan, before moving to the Ferrari test team at the end of the 2003 season
. Smedley initially chose to work on the Ferrari test team because of the possibility to make more technical input, something which is more limited in the race team.
In the middle of the 2006 season, he replaced Gabriele Delli Colli as Felipe Massa
's race engineer. Almost immediately Massa’s form improved; his previously common errors became less frequent, and in August 2006, Massa took his first Formula One pole position
and victory at the Turkish Grand Prix
. Smedley is noted for his very frank and occasionally humorous radio transmissions to Massa. This includes at the 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix
when he was heard clearly saying "Felipe baby, stay cool" after Massa was complaining about not having a clear visor for the wet race which was being restarted.
Following Massa's injury at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, Smedley carried on with the role of race engineer for stand-in drivers Luca Badoer
and Giancarlo Fisichella
as they took over Massa's seat for the remainder of the 2009 season
.
Rob Smedley was awarded an honorary degree ("Doctor of Professional Studies") from Teesside University in 2009.
, and has two sons, Frankie and Felix. The Smedleys hold fundraising events on Teesside to support the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society, SANDS, after the death of their daughter Minnie in 2007.
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
driver Felipe Massa
Felipe Massa
Felipe Massa is a Brazilian Formula One racing driver. He finished second in the Drivers' World Championship, and is under contract to race for Scuderia Ferrari until the end of the season.-Early years:...
at Scuderia Ferrari
Scuderia Ferrari
Scuderia Ferrari is the racing team division of the Ferrari automobile marque. The team currently only races in Formula One but has competed in numerous classes of motorsport since its formation in 1929, including sportscar racing....
.
Smedley's radio transmissions to Massa have even achieved cult status, with many Ferrari fans putting his messages on their mobile phones as ringtones.
Biography and career
Smedley attended St Peter's School in South Bank before going to St Mary's Sixth Form College. He lived in NormanbyNormanby
- Places in England :*Normanby, Redcar and Cleveland, North Yorkshire*Normanby, Ryedale, North Yorkshire*Normanby, North Lincolnshire, home of Normanby Hall*Normanby by Spital*Normanby by Stow*Normanby le Wold- Places in Australia :*Normanby, Queensland...
until he was 18, before going to Loughborough University
Loughborough University
Loughborough University is a research based campus university located in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, in the East Midlands of England...
and beginning his rise through the ranks in motorsport. He initially studied a degree in mathematics and mechanical engineering, before going onto complete a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
.
With his main field of activity in chassis
Chassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
engineering, he began with Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
in 1997
1997 British Touring Car Championship season
The 1997 Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship was won by Alain Menu of the Williams Renault Laguna Dealer Racing team, who drove a Renault Laguna. The runner up was Frank Biela of Audi Sport UK in an Audi A4 Quattro. Third place was Menu's teammate, Jason Plato...
where he worked as a suspension
Suspension
Suspension may refer to:In science and engineering:*Suspension , in mathematics*Suspension , in mathematics*Suspension , mixture of two chemicals with the property that one does not rapidly settle out...
design engineer for the touring car
Touring car
A touring car, or tourer, is an open car seating five or more. Touring cars may have two or four doors. Often, the belt line is lowered in the front doors to give the car a more sportive character. They were often fitted with a folding roof and side curtains. Engines on early models were either in...
team. He then went on to work in Formula 3000 and the Williams touring car team before making his first foray into Formula One with the Jordan Grand Prix
Jordan Grand Prix
Jordan Grand Prix was a Formula One constructor that competed from 1991 to 2005. The team is named after Irish businessman and founder Eddie Jordan...
team.
Initially at Jordan, Smedley worked as a data acquisition
Data acquisition
Data acquisition is the process of sampling signals that measure real world physical conditions and converting the resulting samples into digital numeric values that can be manipulated by a computer. Data acquisition systems typically convert analog waveforms into digital values for processing...
engineer, overviewing all of the telemetric
Telemetry
Telemetry is a technology that allows measurements to be made at a distance, usually via radio wave transmission and reception of the information. The word is derived from Greek roots: tele = remote, and metron = measure...
data that was used by the team's race engineer to support the racing driver. During 2002 and 2003 he went on to be a track engineer for Jordan, before moving to the Ferrari test team at the end of the 2003 season
2003 Formula One season
The 2003 Formula One season was the 54th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 2003 FIA Formula One World Championship, which commenced on March 9, 2003 and ended on October 12 after sixteen races...
. Smedley initially chose to work on the Ferrari test team because of the possibility to make more technical input, something which is more limited in the race team.
In the middle of the 2006 season, he replaced Gabriele Delli Colli as Felipe Massa
Felipe Massa
Felipe Massa is a Brazilian Formula One racing driver. He finished second in the Drivers' World Championship, and is under contract to race for Scuderia Ferrari until the end of the season.-Early years:...
's race engineer. Almost immediately Massa’s form improved; his previously common errors became less frequent, and in August 2006, Massa took his first Formula One pole position
Pole position
The term "pole position", as used in motorsports, comes from the horse racing term where the number one starter starts on the inside next to the inside pole. The term made its way, along with several other customs, to auto racing. In circuit motorsports, a driver has pole position when he or she...
and victory at the Turkish Grand Prix
2006 Turkish Grand Prix
The 2006 Turkish Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race, held on 27 August 2006. The race, which was the fourteenth round of the 2006 Formula One season, was held at Istanbul Park in Istanbul, Turkey. The race marked the first race victory, and also the first pole position, for Felipe Massa, who...
. Smedley is noted for his very frank and occasionally humorous radio transmissions to Massa. This includes at the 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix
2009 Malaysian Grand Prix
The 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on April 5, 2009 at the Sepang International Circuit in Sepang, Malaysia. It was the second race of the 2009 Formula One season. The race was due to be contested over 56 laps, but due to torrential rain, the race was stopped after...
when he was heard clearly saying "Felipe baby, stay cool" after Massa was complaining about not having a clear visor for the wet race which was being restarted.
Following Massa's injury at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, Smedley carried on with the role of race engineer for stand-in drivers Luca Badoer
Luca Badoer
Luca Badoer is an Italian Formula One driver who has raced for the Scuderia Italia, Minardi, Forti Corse and most recently, Ferrari teams...
and Giancarlo Fisichella
Giancarlo Fisichella
Giancarlo Fisichella , also known as Fisico, Giano or Fisi, is an Italian racing driver. He has driven in Formula One for Minardi, Jordan, Benetton, Sauber, Renault, Force India and Ferrari. Nowadays, he drives for AF Corse's GT2 Ferrari in various sportscar events...
as they took over Massa's seat for the remainder of the 2009 season
2009 Formula One season
The 2009 Formula One season was the 60th FIA Formula One World Championship season. The season took place over 17 rounds, and started with the on 29 March 2009. It ended on 1 November 2009 with the inaugural ....
.
Rob Smedley was awarded an honorary degree ("Doctor of Professional Studies") from Teesside University in 2009.
2010 German Grand Prix
At Hockenheim Smedley delivered a very terse radio instruction, "OK, so, Fernando is faster than you. Can you confirm you understood that message?", towards the end of the race when Massa was in the lead. Massa then allowed Alonso to overtake him and win the race. Following the pass on lap 49 Smedley added 'Ok mate good lad, stick with him now, sorry.' After the race Ferrari was fined $100,000 for breaching race regulations concerning team orders but the result was allowed to stand.Career summary
- 1997-1998 : suspension engineer PeugeotPeugeotPeugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
(BTCC) - 1999 : engineer in the test team – Williams (BTCC)
- 2000 : track engineer in Formula 3000
- 2001 : data acquisition engineer - Jordan Grand PrixJordan Grand PrixJordan Grand Prix was a Formula One constructor that competed from 1991 to 2005. The team is named after Irish businessman and founder Eddie Jordan...
(F1) - 2002-2003 : track engineer - Jordan Grand Prix (F1)
- 2004-2005 : engineer in the test team - Scuderia FerrariScuderia FerrariScuderia Ferrari is the racing team division of the Ferrari automobile marque. The team currently only races in Formula One but has competed in numerous classes of motorsport since its formation in 1929, including sportscar racing....
(F1) - 2006–present : race engineer to Felipe Massa - Scuderia Ferrari (F1)
Personal life
Smedley now lives in Italy, due to his work for Ferrari. He is married to Lucy, a former native of RedcarRedcar
Redcar is a seaside resort in the north east of England, and a major town in the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire. It lies east-northeast of Middlesbrough by the North Sea coast...
, and has two sons, Frankie and Felix. The Smedleys hold fundraising events on Teesside to support the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society, SANDS, after the death of their daughter Minnie in 2007.