Jacques Couteau

Jacques Couteau (born 18th October 1955 in Rouen, France) is a French racing team owner and head of Red Bull's motorsports programs. In charge of both the Astro Racing Group and the Red Bull Junior Team, Couteau was the former principal of Fusion Motorsports which guided Terry Hawkin to an AutoReject World Series title in 2018.

Astro Racing Group

Having set up the F1RDS series with his goal to help promote young talents into the RWRS, Couteau handed the reins to former colleague Jan Kristensen. He then set up Nebula Grand Prix, a team based in Bristol with the purpose of supplying motorsport jobs to the local area. At the launch of the team, Fusion Motorsports principal Jake Legge congratulated Couteau on setting up the team, and having had a similar ethos when setting up his team Legge persuaded Couteau to join forces. Tentatively named the Fusion-Nebula Motorsports Group, the pair set up Pulsar Racing Team as their arm for non-single seater activities. With the trend of astrological-themed names, this umbrella became Astro Racing Group. The Fusion Motorsports management scheme was also taken in by the newly formed group, and was renamed Astro Racing Stars to promote the best of young talent.

Wishing to devote more time to his other business interests, Couteau sold 40% of Astro's AutoReject operations to Bischoff & Adler Capital. The teams took on a complete rebrand, and will become Victrix Racing in 2019. In addition, Couteau also sold half of his FIA F2 and F3 teams to Kay Lon's Best In The World franchise, and will become Hypernova Racing next year after a merger with David Sears' Super Nova operations.

Business Portfolio

In 2016, Couteau launched his own Couteau Première range of toiletries with immediate success; in 2017, Couteau Première Luxury Shampoo was a winner of Product Of The Year 2017.

Couteau also ventured into the fashion industry in 2018, launching his own Couteau Black Label collection of "casual business attire".

Personal life

Couteau currently lives in Timsbury, Somerset, with his wife Charline. He has a son, Laurent, who is a sportscar driver.