Former Ferrari and Williams race engineer Rob Smedley has opened up about turning down multiple Formula 1 team principal positions, explaining that the level of accountability without sufficient control is a major concern.
Speaking on the High Performance Racing podcast alongside former Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer and broadcaster Jake Humphrey, Smedley discussed the realities of leadership roles in F1. During a conversation about Szafnauer’s departure from Aston Martin—following the arrival of Martin Whitmarsh as Group CEO, which significantly reduced his responsibilities—Smedley noted that he would have reacted similarly.
“I would have done exactly what you did, which is to say, ‘OK, well, if I can’t do it all, I’m not going to do it,'” Smedley stated. He mentioned that he and Szafnauer continue to receive offers for highly senior positions within teams, including team principal roles.
Smedley explained his decision to decline these offers, emphasizing the issue of accountability. He believes that a team principal is ultimately accountable for everything, both internally within the team and publicly.
Rob Smedley, Head of Vehicle Performance, Williams
Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
“If you’ve got that name on your door, you’re publicly accountable,” Smedley elaborated. “And you say, ‘But hang on, I can only control like 20-30% of the team. What about the other 70%? I still have to stand up and be accountable for that.’ It doesn’t make any sense.”
The former engineer clarified that he is not averse to high-pressure roles, but only when he has the authority to actually control the operations. He asserted that in a team principal or CEO position, one is accountable for everything, and when things go wrong, the individual takes the fall.
“You leave the team, you step down, or they publicly sack you. I’ve got absolutely zero problem with that whatsoever, because it’s all on your watch,” he added. “But when you only control half of it, that makes no sense whatsoever.”