Monisha Kaltenborn’s journey from a lawyer to the first female Team Principal in Formula 1 history was marked by determination, resilience and confidence that transcended barriers. She shattered stereotypes of women only working in the sidelines of motorsport and set a precedent for future generations of women in motorsport.
From Law to the Fast Lane
Born in India in 1971, Monisha moved to Vienna, Austria, as a child, where she pursued a degree in law at the University of Vienna before earning a master’s in International Business Law from the London School of Economics in 1996. Initially, motorsport was not part of her career plan. However, fate had other ideas… She joined the Fritz Kaiser Group in 1998 — co-owners of the Sauber F1 Team at the time. This opened the doors to F1, a world she would soon come to shape.
Rising Through the Ranks
In 2000 Kaltenborn joined the Sauber F1 Team to head the legal department. She gradually made her way up the order, becoming a member of the Board, and then taking on the CEO role in 2010. Her expertise in legal and corporate affairs, coupled with an unwavering commitment to the team, made her a trusted figure within the organisation.
At the end of the 2011 season, Peter Sauber, the founder of Sauber, retired from F1 and announced Kaltenborn as his successor. He then transferred one-third of the team's equity to Kaltenborn, making her an owner of the team. After just two years at the team, in 2012, Monisha Kaltenborn became history's first-ever female team principal in F1!
Leading Sauber Through Challenges
Taking charge at a critical time, Kaltenborn navigated Sauber through financial challenges while making strategic decisions that would shape its future. Under her leadership, Sauber continued to compete at a high level despite limited resources. She was responsible for managing the team’s performance on the track while also securing funding, negotiating partnerships, and handling media scrutiny with poise.
Her tenure was not without its struggles. Despite her best efforts, the team faced persistent financial difficulties, leading to its eventual sale to Longbow Finance in 2016.
Though she remained at the helm for another year, Kaltenborn left Sauber in June 2017, marking the end of an era.
Kaltenborn told The Independent: “I'm really passionate about my job and if I can give other people the courage to simply do what they believe in, I think that is a very nice feeling.”
A Champion for Women in Motorsport
Beyond her time at Sauber, Monisha has been a strong advocate for greater female representation in motorsport. Throughout her career, she has highlighted the challenges women face in leadership positions and has been vocal about the gender disparities in F1. She noted how media coverage often overlooked her technical knowledge in favor of business-related questions.
Monisha told CNN World: “The questions I get are normally very strategic questions about the company, the team, where F1 is going but never how the race was and what I feel about the drivers. But that’s changing now. It’s interesting to see how people take a while to get used to these kinds of questions to women.”
Her involvement with the FIA’s Women in Motorsport Commission, established in 2009, helped inspire change, encouraging more young women to pursue careers in the industry.
An Inspiration for Future Generations
Reflecting on her achievements, Monisha Kaltenborn remains a symbol of resilience and determination. Her story sends a powerful message: dedication, hard work and a dash of chance can defy stereotypes and reshape industries. She has proven that success in motorsport is not about gender, but about skill and perseverance.
For young women aspiring to break into motorsport, Monisha’s journey is a testament to the power of ambition. She may not have initially dreamed of F1, but when the opportunity arose, she seized it—driving change in one of the most competitive arenas in the world. As the first female team principal, she set a precedent, ensuring that the path she carved will lead many more women into the highest echelons of motorsport.
Monisha Kaltenborn did not just enter the world of Formula 1 —she changed it. And in doing so, she has shown countless others that they too can turn their ambitions into achievements.
What is she doing now?