It is all about the Team

Teams are systems. If one of the parts struggles, the team will not perform at its best. This is a lesson I learned over three decades ago while working for Ferrari at the Mexican GP in 1987. It's a lesson that has continuously shaped my philosophy of working with and leading teams.

F1 teams travel with almost everything, but they do purchase some supplies locally. In October of both 1987 and 1988, I had the privilege of working for Ferrari, guiding several mechanics around Mexico City to source local supplies they needed for the race.

Throughout the racing week—from Tuesday to Sunday—I witnessed every detail of what happens behind the scenes: from offloading and unpacking to rebuilding the cars, practicing, qualifying, racing, and then packing up again. Numerous people are involved in getting everything ready. Between practices, there's a flurry of activity—from team meetings and press conferences to events with fans and promoters throughout the day. It's a well-coordinated and orchestrated team effort that unfolds over a span of 5 days. While the driver plays an important and highly visible role, it's truly the collective effort of the entire team that makes things happen.

After the 1987 race, as Scuderia Ferrari was packing up, I collected promotional posters of Michele Alboreto and Gerhard Berger. Armed with a pen, I approached every Ferrari mechanic, technician, racing engineer, member of management, and other staff to get their autographs. All were gracious and kind, signing the posters. Some were somewhat reluctant, viewing their roles as simply doing their job without seeking any further credit or recognition—a display of professional humility. By the end of the afternoon, I had acquired every signature.

The level of specialization and precision in F1 has grown significantly over the past three decades. Orchestration and coordination have become unique trademarks of F1 teams, especially evident in their under 2-second pit stops.

This experience profoundly shaped and defined my approach to working with and leading teams. More recently, I have refined my methodology, drawing inspiration from books like "Teams of Teams" by General McChrystal and "XBOX Revisited" by Robbie Bach.

These two signed posters have adorned the walls of my office ever since. They serve as a daily reminder that teams are systems, where every member matters. It's a collective of individuals, bound by a shared purpose, principles, and priorities, that allows them to perform at their best.