In Formula One, the team principal is the person who is in charge of a constructor team and its personnel. They are usually responsible for issuing team orders and making day-to-day decisions.
Famous examples include Ron Dennis (McLaren), Jean Todt (Ferrari), Frank Williams (Williams), Christian Horner (Red Bull) and Colin Chapman (Lotus). World Drivers' Champions like Alain Prost and Jackie Stewart also became team principals for their own teams after retiring from racing. The most successful team principal of all time is Williams, with nine Team Principal titles, and has led his team on a regular basis since its formation in 1977, despite the car accident that left him paralysed in 1986. Todt was President of the FIA from 2009 until 2021.
Paddy Lowe, as Executive Direction (Technical), is the current title-winning team principal, though he left the role in January 2017.[1]
Monisha Kaltenborn became the first female team principal in Formula One history in 2012 after taking charge of the Sauber team, but she too left in June 2017.[2]
Current team principals[]
| Name | Year Started | Team | Previous Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
 Bruno Famin
|
2023 | Alpine | |
| Frédéric Vasseur
|
2023 | Ferrari | Alfa Romeo Renault |
 Alessandro Alunni Bravi
|
2023 | Alfa Romeo | McLaren |
 Christian Horner
|
2005 | Red Bull | |
 Mike Krack
|
2022 | Aston Martin | Sauber |
| 🇯🇵 Ayao Komatsu | 2024 | Haas | Red Bull |
 Franz Tost
|
2006 | AlphaTauri | Toro Rosso |
| Toto Wolff
|
2013 | Mercedes | |
| James Vowles
|
2023 | Williams | Mercedes |
 Andrea Stella
|
2023 | McLaren |
Past Team Principals[]
By team[]
| Team | Team principals |
|---|---|
| AFM | Alexander von Falkenhausen (1952–1953)
|
| Andrea Moda | Andrea Sassetti (1992)
|
| ATS | Günter Schmid (1978–1984)
|
| Benetton | Peter Collins (1985–1989) Flavio Briatore (1990–1997) Rocco Benetton (1998–start of 2000) Flavio Briatore (2000–2001)
|
| BMW Sauber | Mario Theissen (2006–2009)
|
| Brawn | Ross Brawn (2009)
|
| Caterham |
|
| Coloni | Enzo Coloni (1987-1992)
|
| Eifelland | Günther Hennerici (1972)
|
| Eurobrun |  Walter Brun (1988-1990)
|
| Ferrari | Peter Schetty (1971–1972)
|
| Force India |  Vijay Mallya (2008–July 2018)
|
| Forti Corse | Guido Forti (1995-1996)
|
| Haas | Günther Steiner (2016–present)
|
| Jordan |  Eddie Jordan (1991-2005)
|
| Life |
|
| Lotus | Colin Chapman (1958–1982) Peter Warr (1982–1989) Peter Collins (1989–19994) Tony Fernandes (2010–2011) Éric Boullier (2012–2013) Gérard Lopez (2014–2015)
|
| Manor | Stephen Fitzpatrick (2016)
|
| Marussia | John Booth (2010–2011)
|
| McLaren |  Bruce McLaren (1963–1970) Teddy Mayer (1970–1982) Ron Dennis (1981–2008) Martin Whitmarsh (2009–2013) Ron Dennis (2014–2016) Éric Boullier (2017–2018) Andreas Seidl (2019–2022)
|
| Mercedes | Alfred Neubauer (1954–1955) Ross Brawn (2010–2013) Paddy Lowe (2014–2016)
|
| Minardi | Giancarlo Minardi (1985–2000) Paul Stoddart (2001–2005)
|
| Porsche | Fritz Huschke von Hanstein (1957–1964)
|
| Prost | Alain Prost (1997–2001)
|
| Racing Point |  Otmar Szafnauer (2018–2020)
|
| Red Bull | Christian Horner (2005–present)
|
| Renault | Flavio Briatore (2002–2009) Éric Boullier (2010–2011) Frédéric Vasseur (2016–start of 2017)
|
| Rial | Günter Schmid (1988–1989)
|
| Sauber |
|
| Stewart | Jackie Stewart (1997–1999)
|
| Tyrrell | Ken Tyrrell (1970–1997) Harvey Postlethwaite (1998)
|
| Williams | Frank Williams (1972–2012) Claire Williams (2013-2021) Jost Capito (2021-2022)
|
| Zakspeed | Erich Zakowski (1985–1989)
|
Notes[]
- ↑ "Tech boss Lowe to leave Mercedes post". formula1.com (Formula One Administration). 10 January 2017. https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/headlines/2017/1/lowe-to-leave-mercedes.html. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
- ↑ "Statement by the Chairman regarding Monisha Kaltenborn". Sauber. 22 June 2017. https://www.sauberf1team.com/news/statement-by-the-chairman-regarding-monisha-kaltenborn. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- ↑ Does not hold position of "Team Principal".
- ↑ Dennis has returned to his position as team boss in 2014 after five years, replacing Martin Whitmarsh.
- ↑ Mercedes do not employ anyone with the role of "team principal". However, Paddy Lowe, in his role as Executive Director (Technical), performed the role of a team principal.
- ↑ Appointed by Smith & Williamson to be Caterham's administrator, hence became the de facto Team Principal.