The High Performance Podcast High Performance Racing is here! With Jake, Rob Smedley & Otmar Szafnauer
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Apr 22, 2026 
Otmar Szafnauer, former F1 team principal with deep paddock experience, and Rob Smedley, ex-race engineer known for clear technical breakdowns. They discuss cancelled grands prix and how disruptions hit team development. They unpack why new teams struggle with simulation and tooling. They debate Mercedes’ future, midseason breaks, overtaking, and whether recent rule changes have harmed the sport.
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Simulators And Models Create A High Barrier To Entry
- Modern F1 competitiveness depends on bespoke simulation stacks, tire and aero models, and tight correlation to tunnel and track.
- Rob stressed these systems take years to build and new teams can't simply buy equivalent capability.
Buy Expertise To Shortcut Technical Development
- Shortcut development by hiring experienced people who built the tools you need.
- Rob advised buying knowledge by recruiting the engineers who developed CFD, tyre or simulator models rather than expecting instant internal build.
Short Rule Eras Make Early Advantage Fleeting
- Early-season race losses from cancelled events can swing championship outcomes because advantage is transient under new rules.
- Rob warned that in a developing rule set the leader's gap can evaporate quickly as others copy and catch up.