Greatest F1 Team Principals
Discussion
Interesting article on Autosport on the greatest (statistically speaking) Team Principals in F1 history.
| Rank | Team Principal | Team(s) | Drivers Titles | Teams Titles | Total Titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ron Dennis | McLaren | 10 | 7 | 17 |
| 2 | Frank Williams | Williams | 7 | 9 | 16 |
| 3 | Toto Wolff | Mercedes | 7 | 8 | 15 |
| 4= | Colin Chapman | Lotus | 6 | 7 | 13 |
| 4= | Jean Todt | Ferrari | 6 | 7 | 13 |
| 4= | Christian Horner | Red Bull | 7 | 6 | 13 |
| 7 | Flavio Briatore | Benetton & Renault | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| 8 | Ken Tyrrell | Matra & Tyrrell | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| 9= | Marco Piccinini | Ferrari | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 9= | Jack Brabham | Brabham | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 9= | John Cooper | Cooper | 2 | 2 | 4 |
The Williams v McLaren years were a wonder for me. Almost a decade when they were changing places. Thrilling. I'd just transferred my allegiance to McLaren, and the team, and Williams, seemed so much cleaner than my previous, unnamed by me, team.
One thing though, Frank Williams ran the team jointly with Patrick "Smiler" Head. Dennis took sole control, possibly because no one could work with him.
One thing though, Frank Williams ran the team jointly with Patrick "Smiler" Head. Dennis took sole control, possibly because no one could work with him.
No Ross Brawn? A quick fag packet calculation from memory is 8 constructors championships and 8 drivers (Benetton, Ferrari and Brawn).
I was thinking that perhaps their definition of Principle is 'Owner' but that's not the case with some of those on the list.
I was thinking that perhaps their definition of Principle is 'Owner' but that's not the case with some of those on the list.
Edited by StevieBee on Wednesday 3rd April 20:04
StevieBee said:
No Ross Brawn? A quick fag packet calculation from memory is 8 constructors championships and 8 drivers (Benetton, Ferrari and Brawn).
I was thinking that perhaps their definition of Principle is 'Owner' but that's not the case with some of those on the list.
He was not team principal, technical director or similar, when the teams were winning, except for the year of Brawn GP.I was thinking that perhaps their definition of Principle is 'Owner' but that's not the case with some of those on the list.
Edited by StevieBee on Wednesday 3rd April 20:04
MustangGT said:
StevieBee said:
No Ross Brawn? A quick fag packet calculation from memory is 8 constructors championships and 8 drivers (Benetton, Ferrari and Brawn).
I was thinking that perhaps their definition of Principle is 'Owner' but that's not the case with some of those on the list.
He was not team principal, technical director or similar, when the teams were winning, except for the year of Brawn GP.I was thinking that perhaps their definition of Principle is 'Owner' but that's not the case with some of those on the list.
Edited by StevieBee on Wednesday 3rd April 20:04
Flávio was TP at Benetton, Jean Todt at Ferrari.
StevieBee said:
No Ross Brawn? A quick fag packet calculation from memory is 8 constructors championships and 8 drivers (Benetton, Ferrari and Brawn).
I was thinking that perhaps their definition of Principle is 'Owner' but that's not the case with some of those on the list.
I would define Team Principal as the head of the operation rather than owner (although many of them are both). Jean Todt and Christian Horner have only ever been employees.I was thinking that perhaps their definition of Principle is 'Owner' but that's not the case with some of those on the list.
In the case of Ross Brawn, he was only Team Principal in the final years of Honda, the single year of Brawn and the first 4 years of Mercedes so his total is 2 titles.
Unless I have missed someone then Brawn is the only person other than Ron Dennis, Frank Williams, Toto Wolff, Jean Todt, Christian Horner or Flavio Briatore to have lead a team to a title in the last 40 years.
The stat's don't lie here, for me Ron was the greatest. He took a team heading down the grid fast and completely transformed it and ultimately F1.
In the mid to late 80's Ron set a model for corporate and operational excellence that every other team then copied/emulated or they ended up leaving the sport.
However Chapman exists in a category of his own. Team Principal and simultaneously Technical Director, he was undoubtedly a genius but as one biographer said a wayward one.
In the mid to late 80's Ron set a model for corporate and operational excellence that every other team then copied/emulated or they ended up leaving the sport.
However Chapman exists in a category of his own. Team Principal and simultaneously Technical Director, he was undoubtedly a genius but as one biographer said a wayward one.
blackmme said:
The stat's don't lie here, for me Ron was the greatest. He took a team heading down the grid fast and completely transformed it and ultimately F1.
In the mid to late 80's Ron set a model for corporate and operational excellence that every other team then copied/emulated or they ended up leaving the sport.
If I tried to write my view it would be this word for word!In the mid to late 80's Ron set a model for corporate and operational excellence that every other team then copied/emulated or they ended up leaving the sport.
So I'll just quote you instead.
If you look at it from a titles per year perspective then Toto is out on his own.
Team principal since 2013 - gives him 1.36 titles per season.
Jean Todt is second at 1.18
Horner and Chapman tied for 3rd 0.68
Ron at 0.54 and Frank at 0.37
You could also argue that just remaining an F1 team principal for so long is the hard part - in that case it's
Frank 43
Ron 31
Horner and Chapman tied for 3rd 19 years
This was all done very quickly - so my maths / years might be out.
Team principal since 2013 - gives him 1.36 titles per season.
Jean Todt is second at 1.18
Horner and Chapman tied for 3rd 0.68
Ron at 0.54 and Frank at 0.37
You could also argue that just remaining an F1 team principal for so long is the hard part - in that case it's
Frank 43
Ron 31
Horner and Chapman tied for 3rd 19 years
This was all done very quickly - so my maths / years might be out.
Nexus Icon said:
Eric Mc said:
I am of the opinion that F1 has never been the same since the demise of the "Team Founder". The concept of a "Team Principle" is quite a new one.
It's pretty clear that not all the teams have principles.
I meant, of course, princiPALS.
I have to say, some of those old time "team principals" were often a bit loose with their principles too.
How many of Wolff's titles should be Brawn's?
The hard work goes into building a team to win championships. As Wolff is discovering now.
The two common denominators in the last 31 years of F1 domination have been Newey and Brawn. If you accept that the legacy of building a winning team is fundamental, then it is arguable that Newey and Brawn have been responsible directly or indirectly for every drivers title since 1992 with the exception of only 2005 and 2006.
The hard work goes into building a team to win championships. As Wolff is discovering now.
The two common denominators in the last 31 years of F1 domination have been Newey and Brawn. If you accept that the legacy of building a winning team is fundamental, then it is arguable that Newey and Brawn have been responsible directly or indirectly for every drivers title since 1992 with the exception of only 2005 and 2006.
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