Williams accelerate bid for F1 resurgence with appointment of major tech expert

Dr Smith arrives at Williams after more than a decade in senior leadership roles at Google and DeepMind, where he led large-scale product and platform teams focused on data, AI, and engineering innovation.

A PhD graduate in Computer Science from the University of St Andrews, Smith played a pivotal role in developing Android’s data platform, a system used by more than 3,000 engineers to analyse performance across billions of devices worldwide.

More recently, he co-founded Human Native AI, a venture-backed technology start-up specialising in AI and data solutions. The company was acquired by Cloudflare earlier this year, further cementing Smith’s reputation as a leader in emerging technologies.

The appointment underlines Williams’ growing commitment to leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, and advanced technology as competitive advantages in modern Formula 1.

Formula 1 has long been driven by innovation, but the competitive landscape is increasingly defined by the ability to harness vast amounts of data and deploy AI-driven insights. Williams Team Principal James Vowles believes Smith’s appointment reflects the growing importance of technology across every area of an F1 organisation.

"Success in Formula 1 has always been about combining technological innovation with the best people to deliver on track," said Vowles. "With technology developing at a breakneck pace, the latest battleground in F1 is the ability to harness data and AI across all parts of the team." He added that Smith’s experience at Google, DeepMind, and as a technology entrepreneur makes him ideally positioned to help accelerate Williams’ ambitions.

As CIO, Smith will oversee the team’s information, data, and technology functions, helping to build systems and processes designed to improve performance both on and off the track. Speaking about his appointment, Smith said he was attracted by Williams’ ambition and commitment to embracing modern technology.

Earlier, Williams Racing also strengthened its long-term restructuring plans with the appointment of Piers Thynne from McLaren Racing, with the experienced Briton set to take up the position of Chief Optimisation and Planning Officer.

Thynne brings a wealth of operational experience from a long and progressive career at McLaren, where he rose through several key technical and management roles. He first joined the Woking-based outfit in 2007 as Gearbox Programme Manager, a position he held for five years before being promoted to Head of Programme Management in 2012.

After four years in that role, he stepped up again in 2017 as Head of Programme and Operational Logistics, overseeing increasingly critical aspects of the team’s day-to-day structure and race operations. His progression within the organisation continued with further promotions to Production Director in 2019 and Operations Director in 2021, before ultimately becoming Chief Operating Officer in 2023, a role he held until January this year.