From Dehradun to the Sauber factory in Hinwil (Switzerland), it has been a long but rewarding journey for India-born Monisha Kaltenborn. She has risen steadily to the top in Formula One, which is largely perceived to be a ‘man’s world’.
On Wednesday, she climbed another rung on the ladder when she became F1’s first woman team principal, replacing Peter Sauber. A team principal is the boss of all racing activity of the F1 team.
Monisha, who is also a member of FIA’s Women & Motorsport Commission, is ready for the challenge. “Naturally I’m very aware of the major responsibility I have for Peter Sauber’s racing team,” she said from Yeongam. “I have set my sights high and am committed to taking the team forward as Peter Sauber would want and leading it on to success.”.
Monisha was eight when she moved to Vienna, where her uncle worked with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Right moment to pass on the baton, says Sauber
New Delhi: Monisha Kaltenborn, who became F1 team Sauber’s team principal on Wednesday, has a strong India connection. “I spent the first eight years of my life in Dehradun, attending the Welham’s Girl School. My parents then decided to move abroad keeping an eye on countries that could provide quality education,” Monisha had told TOI earlier this year.
The 41-year-old’s influence in Sauber has been steadily growing ever since she joined the team in 1998-99 as the team’s advisor on corporate and legal affairs. In just 10 years, she rose to the position of the CEO after Sauber became an independentteam following the withdrawal of former partner BMW.
Peter Sauber, who has been part of Formula One for over two decades now, has been grooming Monisha for some time now. Monisha is now a part-owner of the Sauber team too – a third of the team’s stake came to her in March this year. With Sauber already touching 70, Monisha has effectively taken over the reins of the team.
“We decided a long time ago that Monisha would take over,” Sauber said this morning. “We left the timing open. Now is a good time for both of us, so this is the right moment to pass on the baton. After all, there have been a number of racesI’vebeen unable to attend – most recently the Japanese GP, where the team put in an excellent performance. I’m in no doubt that Monisha has all the neccesary skills to be an outstanding team principal.”
Sauber have made remarkable progress with 116 points this season and are well ahead of challengers Sahara Force India in the Constructors Championship. Both their drivers, Sergio Perez and Kamui Kobayashi, have regularly challenged and achieved podium finishes which has a lot to do with the car Sauber C-30, whose development Monisha has closely monitored.
Of course, all this has taken her awayfrom her homein Kusnacht and Monisha relies on her mother to take care of her nine-year-old son and six-year-old daughter whenever required. “There is never a free moment in F1. My mother comes down from Vienna to lend a helping hand and we have nanny at home. The children also have learned to adjust to the situation,” the India-born Austrian citizen had said.
