19. Andrea Stella

In the high-stakes world of Formula 1, where every second counts and leadership often plays out in the spotlight, Andrea Stella is a refreshing anomaly—a detail-obsessed strategist with a long-term vision. Appointed McLaren Team Principal in December 2022, Stella has quietly engineered one of the sport’s most remarkable comebacks.

Born in 1971 in the small Austrian town of Au, Bayer’s passion for motorsport sparked early. Watching thrilling F1 races with his father planted the seeds, yet his career started far from the racetrack. With a business degree from Innsbruck University, Bayer first made waves in the sports scene through snowboarding, working with the International Snowboard Federation. This early chapter reveals a key trait that defines Bayer’s journey: embracing diverse challenges and uniting sport with culture.

In 2002, he founded VIA3 Communications, blending youth engagement across sports, music, and entertainment. He even co-created the Sound City music festival, proving his knack for innovation and leadership beyond traditional sports. His role as CEO of the first-ever Winter Youth Olympic Games in 2012 earned him the Olympic Order in 2013—an honor reflecting his talent for steering large-scale international events.

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Bayer’s motorsport breakthrough came in 2017, when FIA President Jean Todt appointed him Secretary-General for Sport. In this pivotal role, Bayer was the architect behind critical Formula 1 developments: managing global motorsport operations, leading the high-stakes Concorde Agreement negotiations, and pioneering the F1 Cost Cap and 2026 Power Unit Regulations—cornerstones shaping F1’s competitive and sustainable future.

After five years influencing the sport at the highest administrative level, Bayer shifted gears closer to the action. Supporting Audi’s F1 entry laid the groundwork for his next leap—joining Red Bull Racing in 2023. Now based in Faenza, Bayer’s unique blend of business acumen, cross-sport experience, and visionary leadership fuels the team’s ambition on the world’s most thrilling motorsport stage.

In Formula 1, where innovation, strategy, and speed collide, Peter Bayer’s unconventional journey reminds us that success often comes from unexpected routes—and relentless passion.