Diego Gabathuler

Switzerland

Behind most strong brands, there’s an individual who makes the difference. That person exerts significant influence on other team members, and helps elevate everyone’s performance within the company. With this in mind, these are the pioneers whom I consider my car and racing heroes.

Ferdinand Alexander Porsche created a masterpiece with his 901 design.

This is a suitable time to praise all the designers who succeeded him and never changed the design excessively, despite key changes in regulation and fashion. The other car designer I admire greatly is Leonardo Fioravanti, who was the key figure at Pininfarina for many years. His designs are both unique and polarising, but they stand out, are timeless, and possess tension in their lines.

Regarding lead engineering, the one person who I think is exceptional is Hans Mezger. Porsche would be a very different company today if Hans hadn’t joined the crew in 1956. The list of Mezger-designed engines – and their motoring achievements – is a lengthy one. Just in terms of road cars his ingenious ideas are in the first 2.0-litre engines all the way up to the legendary 996 and 997 GT3, GT3 RS, GT2, GT2 RS, Turbo and Turbo S engines.

Colin Chapman, the man who launched Lotus, is another motoring genius. He invented the monocoque, was the first who bolted the engine to the chassis directly and was a forerunner in terms of thinking about and working on aerodynamics.

Speaking of aerodynamics, there’s one person whose work overshadows that of everyone else: Adrian Newey. Nobody else pushed aerodynamics as much as he did for decades. Adrian looked at aerodynamic opportunities with a completely different perspective and his work transformed Formula 1.

Not only is the team principle the public face of a racing team, but they also oversee everything that’s happening within the company and beyond it. Sir Frank Williams built some of the most successful cars in Formula 1, but also assembled some of the most competitive teams and brought talented drivers into the team and advanced their skills.

Of course, even the fastest car won’t win a race without a skilful driver. For me, one of the best drivers of all time is Derek Bell. He won Le Mans five times – four with Porsche – and his technical knowledge and communication skills made him a great asset for this team.

His amiable nature and professionalism made him well-liked among fans and wellrespected among fellow competitors.