| Age | 59 |
| Occupation | COO |
| Company | Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Position Last Year | Up |
Behind every great Formula 1 car is a team of brilliant minds—and Rob Thomas is one of them. As Chief Operating Officer of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team, Rob plays a pivotal role in ensuring that every car the team builds is ready to compete—and win—at the highest level of motorsport.
Rob’s automotive journey began early. At just 16, he left school to start an apprenticeship with Jaguar Cars, laying the foundation for a career built on precision, performance, and a deep passion for engineering. He went on to study Mechanical Engineering at Coventry University and, by 22, was already working offshore as a Drilling Engineer with Shell.
After five years on oil rigs, Rob returned to land and entered the automotive world full-time, joining Rover-BMW as a Project Manager. He later moved into the aerospace sector with TRW and GKN, sharpening his expertise in operations and efficiency.
In 2005, Rob’s path steered toward motorsport when he joined Mercedes-Ilmor, where he collaborated with F1 powerhouses Ola Källenius and Andy Cowell. There, he helped transform the company into Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines, which would go on to power Lewis Hamilton’s 2008 World Championship win.
His operational brilliance didn’t go unnoticed. In 2010, Rob Thomas was brought into the Mercedes F1 team as COO. His job? In his own words: “To make sure we manufacture, build and test a car that will be capable of winning races and championships.” And win they did—helping the team secure eight consecutive Constructors’ Championships and seven Drivers’ titles, an era of dominance rarely seen in any sport.
What keeps Rob inspired? “A level of teamwork that is unparalleled anywhere else,” he says. In the fast-paced world of Formula 1, where every millisecond counts, this unity, combined with relentless innovation, keeps Mercedes at the front of the grid.
From oil rigs to podiums, Rob Thomas’s story is a testament to what happens when engineering excellence meets the thrill of Formula 1.