5. Stefano Domenicali (2008-2014)
Domenicali is a familiar face to any fan currently interested in F1. He's been a race engineer, a technical director, and now a chief executive working for the FIA. Despite only capturing a single world title in his time with the team, Deomenicali saw through three years of close contention. He also navigated the team through one of the eras of the most rapid technical progress. Domenicali nearly captured titles in 2010 and 2012, but it was not to be.
Domenicali presided over the team in a tough era following the golden years of the early 2000s. Despite the massive leap up in competition, Domenicali largely righted the ship, and kept Ferrari out of the turmoil they're now know for today.
4. Romolo Tavoni (1958-61)
Began Ferrari's ascension to the top. Not only did he break the poor streak of the 1950s with a driver's title win for their driver Hawthorne, he also laid the groundwork for Ferrari's first constructors win in 1962. He eventually left to start his own team, but in such a chaotic era, his calming hand surely was the one that put Ferrari on the track to success.
Such was the chaos of the 1950s/60s, that Ferrari had to purchase an entire chassis from Alfa Romeo to continue competing in 1958. Imagine Renault doing that now, or Racing Point... oh wait.
Tavoni's career was marred by a slew of driver deaths. It is likely the team would have secured even more titles without this, but due to the lack of safety at the time, it was an all-too-unfortunate reality. He later jumped ship following a heated argument with Enzo Ferrari over the latter's wife's influence over the team. His success is as cherished as it is marred by those lives lost.
3. Marco Piccinni (1978-88)
Presided over some of the most classic Ferrari moments in F1 history. The massively competitive years of the 1980s produced an up-and-down spring of drivers and teams. McLaren, Williams, and Ferrari dueling it out with the likes of Senna, Prost, and Mansell behind the wheel. All top class performances all of the time. Only a couple of championships came out of this era, but managing the likes of Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and more make him a talisman of the Ferrari brand.
His reign hauled in three constructor's titles on its own. While Ferrari were arguably more competitive in the mid 1970s, the vast amount of turnover made it difficult for any one person to be credited. (However if you were to, the accolades would likely fall to Luca Di Montzemolo for the longest and first tenure of this reign).
2. Eugenio Dragoni (1962-1966)
Catapulted the team forward following Ferrari's first constructor's title in 1961. Crazy to think that Ferrari didn't win a constructors title until 11 years into the sport, but once they did, it came in droves. 1961 & '64 represented their first forays into winning ways, although they wouldn't be back before a decade later, Dragoni's 4 year stint from 62-65 proved the most successful of any early Ferrari team boss.
He was well known for his temper, and often fell out with both drivers and the media. However,Ferrari also won Le Mans three times under Dragoni's watch. Not to mention a further 4 sports car world championships. His close connection to Enzo himself ensured his tenure was longer than most. A definitive Ferrari legend.
1. Jean Todt (1993-2007)
Crazy to think that before 1999, Ferrari had less championships than Williams. After Todt's 14 year tenure as head of Ferrari, they were 6 championships ahead of the next-best. Following the year after his leaving, Ferrari have won 1 out of a possible 26 Constructors and/or Drivers Titles. With him at the helm, they went 14 for 28. Todt's influence is massive, and it's the standard by which we judge all future team principals.
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