Thierry Boutsen, a former Formula One driver from Belgium, made a notable name for himself in the sport by racing from 1983 to 1993. He competed against legendary drivers like Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, and Mika Hakkinen. Throughout his F1 career, Boutsen drove for teams such as Arrows, Benetton, Williams, Ligier, and Jordan, participating in 164 races and achieving 15 podium finishes, including three race victories. His impressive career also saw him triumph over iconic competitors like Senna.
After leaving the racing world, Boutsen pursued a completely different path and found even greater success in the aviation industry. Now 68 and living in Monaco, he has spent the last 25 years building a business selling private jets, accumulating significant wealth along the way. His journey into aviation was unexpected, sparked by a job at a private jet maintenance company when he was just 18 years old.
In a 2020 interview, Boutsen shared how a chance to work on private jets introduced him to the world of aviation. His fascination deepened after experiencing a post-maintenance test flight. That moment inspired a long-held ambition to own and fly a private jet, a dream he realized 12 years later. Flying quickly became a passion on par with racing.
Interestingly, Boutsen didn’t originally plan to start an aircraft business. He would fly his own plane to various events during and after his racing days. But when a fellow F1 driver, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, asked for help purchasing the same model aircraft Boutsen flew, Boutsen took on the task. That deal marked the beginning of his new career, with Frentzen becoming his first customer.
Since then, Boutsen has turned that one-off favor into a thriving enterprise. His company has facilitated many jet sales and catered to elite clientele, proving that success after F1 is more than possible. From racing circuits to airfields, Boutsen’s journey stands out as a unique and inspiring transformation.
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