Formula 1 Drivers Rely on Management Teams to Stay on Top
In the high-stakes world of Formula 1, where only 20 seats are available on the grid, competition is fierce. Since Formula 1’s inaugural race at Silverstone in 1950, only 776 drivers can lay claim to being an F1 grand prix driver. To succeed, having the right management team behind them is crucial.
Graeme Lowdon, former CEO of Virgin and Marussia Formula 1 teams, currently runs Equals Management with former racing driver turned manager, Marc Hynes. Together, they work with top drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Zhou Guanyu. Lowdon stresses the importance of creating an environment where an athlete can perform at their best. “Our approach is what we call a 360 approach,” he explained to Autosport. “That means overseeing anything that can distract a driver from driving a race car, so logistics, contracts negotiations, sponsorship, physio, health and diet, tax structuring and so on.”
For Formula 1 drivers, having a management team that understands their needs and can navigate the complexities of F1 contracts is vital. Who manages who in the F1 paddock? Here’s a rundown of some of the top drivers and their management teams:
- Max Verstappen – Raymond Vermeulen (manager)
- Sergio Perez – Julian Jakobi (agent), Luis Alberto Aguirre (manager)
- Lewis Hamilton – Marc Hynes (manager)
- George Russell – Mercedes and Harry Soden (management)
- Oscar Piastri – Jam Management (management team)
- Lando Norris – ADD Management (management team)
- Charles Leclerc – All Road Management (management team)
- Carlos Sainz – Carlos Onoro Sainz (manager)
- Fernando Alonso – Flavio Briatore (manager)
- Lance Stroll – Steve O’Connor and Mel Hoppenheim (management team)
- Nico Hulkenberg – Raoul Spengler (manager)
- Kevin Magnussen – Himself
- Daniel Ricciardo – CAA (agent), Blake Friend (manager)
- Yuki Tsunoda – Mario Miyakawa and Luis Alvarez (management team), Takashi Usami (operations/finance)
- Valtteri Bottas – Didier Coton (manager)
- Zhou Guanyu – Graeme Lowdon and Marc Hynes (management team)
- Logan Sargeant – Gary Catt (manager)
- Alex Albon – Jacques Heckstall-Smith (manager)
- Esteban Ocon – Gwen Lagrue (manager)
- Pierre Gasly – Guillaume Le Goff (manager)
“Our approach is what we call a 360 approach. That means overseeing anything that can distract a driver from driving a race car, so logistics, contracts negotiations, sponsorship, physio, health and diet, tax structuring and so on.”
- Graeme Lowdon, Equals Management
In the world of Formula 1, having the right management team is key to success. With the Formula 1 schedule heating up, these drivers will rely on their management teams to help them navigate the challenges of the sport and stay on top of their game.
Source: Autosport
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