Rob Smedley rejected F1 team principal roles over accountability concerns

Rob Smedley explains why he turned down F1 team principal roles

Former Ferrari and Williams race engineer Rob Smedley has revealed that he was recently approached about Formula 1 team principal positions, but chose not to accept any of them.

The discussion centred on Szafnauer’s departure from Aston Martin, where Martin Whitmarsh’s arrival as Group CEO effectively removed much of Szafnauer’s authority. Smedley said he would have made the same decision in those circumstances: “OK, well, if I can’t do it all, I’m not going to do it.”

The problem with responsibility without control

Smedley said experienced figures such as himself and Szafnauer continue to receive offers for highly senior positions, including team principal roles. However, he argued that the structure of the job can make it unattractive when authority does not extend across the full operation.

“I think the team principal is accountable for everything. And you’re not only accountable within the team; you’re publicly accountable as well,” he said.

The team principal is the public face of the organisation when results fall short. Yet, according to Smedley, that leader may control only 20% or 30% of the team while remaining answerable for the other 70%.

“If you’ve got that name on your door, you’re publicly accountable,” he added. “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.”

Pressure is not the issue

Smedley stressed that he is not opposed to roles carrying intense pressure. In his view, accountability itself is entirely justified when the person in charge has genuine control over the team’s performance.

“When it goes wrong, you take the fall quite rightly,” he said, adding that he has no problem with leaving, stepping down or being publicly dismissed when everything is genuinely “on your watch”.

His objection is narrower but fundamental: accepting responsibility for areas he cannot control. For Smedley, the authority to make decisions must match the accountability attached to the title.