Ranked: 2025 F1 Team Principals on the basis of their age

Modified Jan 10, 2025 15:33 GMT

F1 Grand Prix of Austria - Practice & Sprint Qualifying - Source: Getty — Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner talks with Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolff in the Paddock- Source: Getty

F1 team principals on most occasions are the ones who hold the entire outfit together on and off the track. It is under their vision and philosophy that the team operates throughout a campaign that yields results on the track.

Over the last couple of years, there has been a lot of movement in the market regarding the top job with many personnel moving teams. On most occasions, the team owner usually goes for an experienced pair of hands but there are a few on the current grid that have taken up the challenge for the first time as well.

Below is the list of team principals ranked oldest to youngest on the basis of their age:

#1 Jonathan Wheatley- Kick Sauber F1

Jonathan Wheatley will become the team principal of the Kick Sauber team for the first time in his almost three-decade-long motorsport career. The former Red Bull sporting director and team manager left the Austrian organization in 2024, having been part of the Milton Keynes outfit since its early years.

Wheatley, who is 57 years old, is the oldest team principal on the current grid despite being so new in his job.

#2 Fred Vasseur- Ferrari

The Ferrari team principal has been around in the world of motorsport for over three decades, having set up the ART Grand Prix in the junior circuit. He later joined Sauber as their CEO and team principal before taking the job at Ferrari in 2023.

Frederic Vasseur, who was born on May 28, 1968, is the second oldest team principal on the current grid, having been eclipsed by Wheatley this year.

#3 Andy Cowell- Aston Martin

Andy Cowell is the most recent team principal on the grid as he takes over the role from Mike Krack at the Aston Martin F1 team in 2025. The Brit, who will turn 56 on February 12, joined the Silverstone-based outfit as the Group CEO and replaced Martin Whitmarsh in the role.

The famed engineer rose to prominence during his Mercedes days when he led the engine department and made the most dominant powertrains for the German team in the Turbo-Hybrid era.

#4 Andrea Stella- McLaren

Andrea Stella has brought back McLaren to the winner's circle as he led the Woking-based outfit to their first Constructor's championship since the 1998 season last year.

The Italian, who is a year older than Wolff, took the helm of the team in 2023 and has been a key figure in taking the British team back to the top of F1.

#5 Toto Wolff- Mercedes

Mercedes F1 team principal Toto Wolff is arguably the most famous at his position in the sport due to his influence and success ever since he took over the job in 2014 and led the German team to eight consecutive Constructors' championships from 2014 to 2021.

The Austrian, who will turn 53 on January 12, is one of the most influential people in the F1 paddock and the only team boss, who is also a billionaire in his own right.

#6 Christian Horner- Red Bull

The Red Bull F1 team boss is the longest-serving team principal on the current grid having joined the team in 2005 from its inception. Christain Horner, who turned 51 in November last year, has led the Austrian team to success in the 2010s and in the current regulations since 2022.

For his achievements, he was facilitated with the CBE by the Royal Family in 2024.

#7 Ayao Komatsu- Haas

Ayao Komatsu was born on January 28, 1976, and has been involved at the pinnacle of motorsport for two decades. He served as the trackside engineering director for the American team Haas till 2023 before he replaced Guenther Steiner as the team principal last year.

The Japanese has been influential in the team's resurgence in 2024 as they were just a few points away from finishing P6 in the Constructor's championship.

#8 Laurent Mekies

Similar to Komatsu, Laurent Mekies too, had a solid first year as the team principal of the Racing Bulls and guided them to P8 in the Constructor's championship.

The Frenchman, who was born in April 1977, was the racing director of the Ferrari F1 team from 2021-2023 before taking the job at the Faenza-based outfit.

#9 James Vowles- Williams F1

The stoic team principal of Williams F1 has been instrumental in their resurgence from the doldrums of the sport since he took over the job in 2023.

James Vowles, who is the second youngest team boss aged 45, was previously the head of Strategy at Mercedes during their championship years before leading the Grove-based outfit.

#10 Oliver Oakes- Alpine

Ever since Oliver Oakes took over the role of team principal of Alpine from Bruno Famin in the middle of last year, the French team's fortune and results have completely turned around as they finished P6 in the Constructor's championships in 2024.

Oakes, who is the youngest team principal of the group by some distance, is aged 36 and was previously involved with the F2 team HiTech GP.

Edited by Luke Koshi