Being a Formula One team principal is not only prestigious but also incredibly lucrative. These individuals earn enormous salaries, with Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing’s supremo, pocketing an impressive £8 million per year. However, his wealth is overshadowed by a rival in the world of F1.
Who Makes the Most?
Let’s delve into the world of F1 team principals and discover who reigns as the richest. SunSport has compiled the ultimate rich list based on estimates found online.
10. Bruno Famin – £500,000
Bruno Famin is the interim team principal for Alpine. Although relatively new to the game, Famin boasts a wealth of experience in motorsport. He previously held leading roles at Peugeot Sport and joined Alpine in 2022 as CEO in charge of engine development.
9. Ayao Komatsu – £650,000
Ayao Komatsu has an established career in motor racing. After working with BAR and Lotus, he joined Haas as their trackside engineering director in 2016. Following the departure of legendary Guenther Steiner, Komatsu was promoted to team principal in January 2023.
8. Mike Krack – £800,000
Mike Krack replaced Otmar Szafnauer as Aston Martin’s team principal and CEO in 2022. He brings a wealth of experience from his time with BMW Sauber, where he held various roles, including overseeing their Formula E, IMSA, and GT programs. With Aston Martin’s continuous improvement, Krack’s position on this list could be higher next year.
7. Laurent Mekies – £1 million
Laurent Mekies was the sporting director at Ferrari before taking on the role of team principal with AlphaTauri in January. He left the comfort of Ferrari for the challenge of leading Red Bull Racing’s sister team. Before joining Ferrari, Mekies served as the safety director at the FIA and deputy race director.
6. Andrea Stella – £1.2 million
Andrea Stella became team principal of McLaren last season, taking over from Andreas Seidl. With a background in aerospace engineering and a rich history in Formula 1, Stella worked his way up through the ranks from performance engineer to head of race operations before assuming the role of team principal.
5. Fred Vasseur – £3.5 million
Fred Vasseur holds one of the most coveted positions in Formula 1 as the principal of Scuderia Ferrari. With a reported salary of £2.5 million per year, Vasseur is under immense pressure. Prior to leading Ferrari, Vasseur served as team boss at Alfa Romeo Sauber and Renault. Next year, he will be working with Lewis Hamilton.
4. James Vowles – £4 million
James Vowles, an Englishman, took on the role of team principal at Williams last season. Previously Mercedes’ motorsport strategy director, Vowles made his Formula 1 debut as an engineer for the Honda racing team before joining Williams. At the age of 44, Vowles is the youngest team principal on the grid.
3. Alessandro Alunni Bravi – £4 million
Alfa Romeo took a different approach by appointing Alessandro Alunni Bravi as their team representative, effectively a team principal. With a background in law and experience as the team principal of the trident GP2 team, Alunni Bravi serves as the intermediary between Alfa Romeo and F1 bosses and sponsors.
2. Christian Horner – £50 million
Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing’s principal, is the highest-paid team principal in F1. With an annual salary of around £8 million, Horner has successfully led Red Bull Racing to nine titles. He began his career with aspirations of becoming a driver but transitioned into team management. His personal life made headlines when he wife, Geri Halliwell of Spice Girls fame, entered the picture.
1. Toto Wolff – £1.2 billion
Toto Wolff, the German mastermind behind Mercedes-Benz’s domination in F1, tops the rich list with a staggering net worth of £1.2 billion. Wolff made headlines as a billionaire back in 2023. Besides his one-third stake in the Mercedes F1 operation, Wolff’s wealth primarily stems from his success with investment firms. His initial £40 million investment in Mercedes in 2012 has since grown substantially.
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