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This article first appeared in GP Racing magazine.
Formula 1 team bosses are a heterogeneous bunch. The nature, style and impact of the role varies between outfits depending on the skillset of the individual holding the position and those around them. As a group, they are second only to the drivers in terms of public profile and although there have been cases where their visibility outstrips their effectiveness, they can have a profound impact - for better or worse - on the teams they lead.
To draw a footballing analogy, they are the managers: high-profile, conspicuous mouthpieces who can, rightly or wrongly, be blamed for all the goods and ills of their teams. Succeed and you are lauded, fail and there are calls for your head. Both are unrealistic extremes but, like the best football managers, the most effective team bosses can imbue their outfits with a culture, strategy and way of working that delivers success while simultaneously creating an environment that allows the excellence of the staff to shine through. But it can be difficult to distinguish cause and effect.
Take McLaren's 2019 revival. Andreas Seidl arrived as team principal at the start of May last year. A post hoc ergo propter hoc reading would conclude that his arrival led to the change of fortune and confirm he has the magic touch.
