How much do team principals make in F1? All the facts and details

By definition, a team principal is the boss of a Formula 1 team, managing every gameplan of the team, including strategy, driving, engineering, and designing. The F1 ranks as one of the most expensive sports, with drivers earning millions in annual income. How much do team principals make in F1? Dig in and discover how much the top bosses of Formula One earn.

According to Forbes, the top teams in this racing class are valued at $1.88 billion, with teams such as Mercedes accruing an average of $114.8 million in the 2017 annual wage bill. To determine how much F1 team principals are paid, Sports Brief has conducted in-depth research using publicly available data from Formula One, Forbes and other sources.

How much do team principals make in F1?

This article provides a breakdown of Formula One financials and the income team principals get monthly and annually. Scroll down and learn what it means to be a team principal and the financial gains that come with the role.

What do team principals do in F1?

To understand how much F1 principals make, it is crucial to get a clear picture of their role on a Formula One team. By RedBull's definition, the team driver is the face of the team and an everyday presence during pre and post-race interviews and media sessions.

He or she is also active in approving strategies from race engineers, sporting directors or the head of strategy during a race. Other roles under the principal's preview include staffing, investing, marketing, legal and safety operations. In the words of former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner,

How much does a team principal in Formula 1 make annually?

According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary for an F1 team principal is $109,393. The top earners in this job category receive a yearly wage ranging from $156,000 to $182,000, with the lowest earning about $36,500.

Newly appointed Haas principal, Ayao Komatsu is the first ever Japanese team principal to lead a non-Japanese racing team. Various sources report that Ayao Komatsu's salary ranges between $812,000 and $1 million. Guenther Steiner, the former Haas F1 team principal salary, was about a million dollars annually.

How much do F1 principals make monthly?

ZipRecruiter estimates that the team chiefs in the United States receive an average of $9,116 monthly or an equivalent of $2,103 weekly. Further details on the principals' earnings remain unknown.

What do the top F1 team principals earn?

The top F1 teams of 2024 include Red Bull Racing, Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, Aston Martin RB, Haas, Williams, Alpine and Kick Sauber. Here is an analysis of the most successful team principals in F1, their annual wages, and their net worth records.

1. Toto Wolf - Mercedes AMG PETRONAS F1 Team

Mercedes-AMG Petronas' top boss, Toto Wolf, is regarded as the richest F1 team principal. The racing team has won eight World Championships with 129 pole positions and 96 fastest laps.

Publications such as Sportune report that his annual salary of $44.8 million consists of $8.5 million as a fixed part, a $6.4 million result bonus, and $29.8 million in dividends. GPBlog reports that Toto Wolff's salary is $17 million annually.

As of May 2024, Toto Wolff's net worth was $1.6 billion. This wealth is linked to his role as team chief and CEO of Mercedes AMG PETRONAS, his 33% shareholding in the team, and investments at the Williams F1 team.

2. Christian Horner - Oracle Red Bull Racing

Oracle Red Bull Racing's team chief, Christian Horner, leads as the number one team that has won six World Championships with 195 points, 100 pole positions, 97 fastest laps, and 117 highest race finishes. In 2005, Horner became the youngest team principal in F1 at 31 years and later the second-richest.

Motorsport estimates his annual salary to be $19 million and a net worth of about $50 million. Other sources suggest that Christian Horner's annual salary of $23.4 million includes a $10.6 million results bonus.

3. Frédéric Vasseur - Ferrari

Frédéric Vasseur's team, Ferrari, is second with 151 points. The racing team has won a record 16 World Championships, with 249 pole positions, 261 fastest laps, and 245 highest race finishes.

How much does Ferrari's team principal make? According to Sportune, the Frenchman receives an annual pay of about $8.5 million.

4. Andrea Stella - McLaren

According to the official F1 ranking of 2024, McLaren is third with 96 points. McLaren has won 8 World Championships, with 165 fastest laps, 157 pole positions, and 183 highest race finishes.

While some sources suggest that its team chief, Andrea Stella, earns $1.49 million, others report that the accurate figure lies between $6.4 million and $8.5 million. Andrea Stella's net worth is estimated to be between $1 million and $5 million.

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5. Bruno Famin - BWT Alpine

Alpines' new principal, Bruno Famin, took the reins of the number nine team, which has won two World Championships, with 20 pole positions, fifteen fastest laps, and 21 highest race finishes. Sportune and the Sun report that his annual salary at Alpine was $2.1 million, and his estimated net worth ranges between $626,232 and $627,290.

Final word

How much do team principals make in F1? Available records of principals' income and responsibilities reveal their importance on international racing teams.

Sports Brief has published an article on Formula 2 drivers and their earnings. As one of the most expensive sports, international race car drivers, such as Formula One drivers, are known to earn hefty salaries with cushy bonuses and prize rewards. Click on the link above to learn more.