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A top Formula 1 team doesn’t depend on top drivers alone but top mechanics and designers too because after all Sebastian Vettel couldn’t have won four Championships if his car wasn’t up to the mark. There have been some incredibly gifted designers over the years who have helped their team achieve glory and defeated giants in the process. In fact there are a few legendary designers associated with top teams even today. Who are they? Find out in this list of the top F1 designers.
#5 Mauro Forghieri
Ferrari has had some iconic drivers over the years but in Mauro Forghieri they had an iconic designer. The Italian joined the team in 1962 and helped them dominate Formula 1 in the 1970’s.
Forghieri helped John Surtees, Niki Lauda ( who was world champion twice with Ferrari) and Jody Scheckter achieve glory. He also helped the team win a remarkable eight Constructors Championships.
#4 Patrick Head
Williams owes its success and legendary status in Formula 1 to its co-founder Patrick Head. Head helped Williams win nine Constructors Championships along with seven Drivers Championships. He formed a fruitful partnership with Adrian Newey and dominated F1 in the ‘80s and early ‘90s.
The Brit has influenced noted engineers like Ross Brawn, Geoff Wills along with Neil Oatley and has established a lasting legacy in the sport.
#3 Rory Byrne
South African designer Rory Byrne is one of the most influential designers in Formula 1 and cars designed by him have won over 70 Grand Prix’s, seven Constructors titles and Six drivers titles. Newey started his F1 career with Toleman (later Toleman-Benetton) and designed cars for Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher during their time with the team.
Byrne’s design of two rear wings on cars was soon copied by other teams due to its success. Legendary F1 driver Michael Schumacher owes some of his success to Byrne, who helped the German win a record 7 World Championships with both Benetton and Ferrari.
Byrne retired from Formula One in 2004, but is currently a consultant with the team.
#2 Adrian Newey
Newey is a living legend in Formula 1 and is the only designer who has built 10 Championship winning cars. He is also the only designer to lead three different teams (Williams, McLaren & Red Bull) to World Championship glory. The 55-year-old, who currently has a long-term contract with Red Bull, has tasted success in the IndyCar series too.
Newey’s achievements aren’t going to be surpassed by anybody anytime soon. Red Bull will find it hard to replace him when he decides to call time on his career.
#1 Colin Chapman
Nobody but Chapman could have occupied the top spot on this list as he not only created a successful F1 team but also created a car company that enjoys cult status in England.
Chapman worked for the Royal Air Force and was truly a brilliant designer which led to him forming his own car company. Lotus won seven Formula 1 Championships under Chapman’s leadership and his cars were driven by legendary drivers like Stirling Moss, Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna.
Chapman tragically died of a heart attack in 1982 at an young age of 54, but his vision and legacy will be remembered for years to come.
