Monisha Kaltenborn and Claire Williams: Meet The Only Two Women to Hold the Position of Team Principal in Formula 1

Only two women have held the position of team principal in the 72-year history of F1—Monisha Kaltenborn and Claire Williams. 

Monisha Kaltenborn

Monisha Kaltenborn was born in Dehradun, India, before immigrating to Europe as a child with her family. From 1990-1995, Kaltenborn studied law at the University of Vienna before completing a master’s degree in International Business Law at the London School of Economics. In 1998, she was introduced to the world of Motorsport when she joined the legal department of Fritz Kaiser Group, a shareholder of the Sauber F1 team at the time. Kaltenborn continued to climb the ranks, taking a position on the Sauber Group’s management board in 2001 and being appointed CEO in 2010. But perhaps most impressively, Kaltenborn made history in 2012 when it was announced she would be taking over for Peter Sauber as Sauber F1’s team principal, making her the first woman to hold this position. Kaltenborn remained the team principal of Sauber until she departed from F1 in 2017. 

While it has been several years since Kaltenborn worked in F1, her success and resilience continue to inspire women and girls who aim for a position at the top of the paddock. Her career shows that not only do women belong in Motorsport, but they can also make it all the way to the top. Here is her advice for the girls who wish to follow in her footsteps:

“You have the qualifications, you have the competencies, and you show your excellence through your job and your activities. And then don’t let yourself get intimated by some unqualified comments that you’re a woman.”

“What is most important is that you be yourself. Don’t try to then behave like a man or do it like a man because you cannot do that. As a woman you can’t, but you shouldn’t also need to.”

Claire Williams

Claire Williams joined her father, Frank Williams, F1 team in 2002 as a communications officer. And in 2010, Williams became the head of communications after receiving a promotion. But her career took an unexpected turn in 2012 when her father reduced his workload and stepped down from the Williams board. Claire stepped in, taking over her father’s position on the board, and a year later, she was appointed as William’s F1 deputy team principal. William’s F1 team finished third in the constructor’s championship twice under her leadership in 2014 and 2015. However, in 2020, after the team had suffered from financial constraints and underperformed in the preceding seasons, the Williams F1 team was acquired by Dorilton Capital, an investment firm based out of New York. After the Italian Grand Prix in September of the same year, Claire stepped down from her position at Williams, saying farewell to Formula 1.

Claire Williams is undoubtedly a trailblazer in the world of Motorsport. As the second woman in history to hold the position of F1 team principal, Williams has proven that women have the ability and skills to lead an F1 team. And while she may no longer be part of the Williams F1 team, she will always be acknowledged and celebrated for helping to pave the way for women in Motorsport.

Learn more about the inspirational women of F1 here.