Smedley was involved in an incident at the 2010 German Grand Prix in which the Ferrari team were found to have breached regulations regarding team orders. As Massa was in the lead of the race Smedley contacted him by radio and said "Fernando is faster than you. Can you confirm you understood that message?", a thinly veiled instruction to allow Alonso to pass him to win, which Massa duly complied with. Following the pass on lap 49 Smedley added 'OK mate good lad, stick with him now, sorry.' After the race Ferrari were fined $100,000 for the team orders, but the result was allowed to stand.