F1 2025: who are the oldest and newest team managers on the grid?

The 2025 season of Formula 1 is fast approaching, and with it a new look at team managers, who see new arrivals every year. While some are veterans of the paddock, others have just taken the reins of their team. Here's a look at the oldest and newest team managers on the current grid.

Formula 1's "dinosaurs": Christian Horner and Toto Wolff

When it comes to seniority, two names stand out: Christian Horner and Toto Wolffthe "dinosaurs" of the paddock, in the words of Christian Horner himself. At the dawn of the 2025 season, Horner celebrates 20 years at the helm of the Red Bull team, an impressive figure that was not a foregone conclusion, especially after the storm that shook his team at the start of the 2024 season, when his position seemed to be weakened after accusations of harassment. However, he has weathered the storm and remains one of the most respected team managers in the paddock.

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As for Toto Wolffhe is the head of Mercedes since January 2013 12 yearsand continues to reign with calm authority and a clear vision of his team's development, which has enabled him to transform Mercedes into one of the most powerful teams in the modern era of F1.

Other team managers, from the oldest to the most recent

This is in stark contrast to other team managers, who have been at the helm of their teams for between 2 years and a few months.

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  1. Andrea Stella (McLaren) : arrived in December 2022Andrea Stella is one of the most prominent newcomers. Formerly an engineer with Ferrari and McLaren, he has taken the helm of a team seeking a renaissance after a number of difficult years. He is an important figure in the evolution of McLaren, a team on the rise.
  2. Frédéric Vasseur (Ferrari) a familiar name to F1 fans, Frédéric Vasseur has taken over the management of Ferrari in January 2023, after a career marked by his stint as head of Alfa Romeo F1 Team between 2019 and 2022. His brief experience in 2016 with Renault Sport F1 Team has strengthened his expertise, and today he's in charge of guiding the Scuderia to the constructors' and drivers' world championships.
  3. James Vowles (Williams) The Williams main team since February 2023James Vowles is a former Mercedes engineer. He has a long career in F1, but his role at Williams marks a new chapter for him and for the legendary team in its quest for revitalization.
  4. Alessandro Alunni Good (Audi/Sauber) Although Sauber has yet to designate a true main team, Alessandro Alunni Good has been the team's representative since January 2023. He will leave the team at the end of January 2025. Jonathan Wheatleyformer Red Bull sporting director, will officially take over the reins of the team from April 2025.
  5. Laurent Mekies (Racing Bulls) and Ayao Komatsu (Haas) : Since january 2024these two new personalities have taken over as team leaders Racing Bulls and Haas. Their challenge will be to keep the teams on the podium while building a long-term vision.
  6. Oliver Oakes (Alpine) : At the head ofAlpine since August 2024, Oliver Oakes finds himself in an interesting position, as the team has been through a lot of low points, and he benefits from long experience in Formula 2.
  7. Andy Cowell (Aston Martin) The last to reach the gate, Andy Cowellwas announced as the future main team d'Aston Martin from January 2025. It replaces Mike Krack. Formerly involved in engine development at Mercedes, his arrival at Aston Martin heralds a turning point for the team, which aims to compete with the best.

Team Manager, a longevity that depends on results

The role of team manager in Formula 1 depends very much on results, and this new 2025 season highlights that apart from historic figures like Wolff and Horner, other teams give their managers only a few years to produce results. For example, Günther Steiner has 9 years at the helm of Haas from 2014 to 2023, while a team like Alpine F1 Team has seen the likes of Olivier Oakes, Bruno Famin, Otmar Szafnauer, Laurent Rossi and Cyril Abiteboul in just a few years...

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