In a surprising turn of events, Jonathan Wheatley has departed the Audi F1 project with immediate effect. The Briton leaves his post as Team Principal less than a year after being appointed to lead the race team into its new era as the German manufacturer’s works outfit.
Wheatley had been working in a dual leadership structure alongside Mattia Binotto, who assumed responsibility for Audi’s debut Formula 1 engine operation and the chassis base at Hinwil. The duo were known to have a strong, collaborative working relationship.
Their offices sat adjacent to each other in Hinwil, Switzerland, with a joining door that Wheatley had previously told me was more often open than closed. This arrangement facilitated constant communication as they spearheaded the team’s extensive rebuild.
Based on sources inside the team, he was very good at it. Alongside that, Binotto has made great strides with the engine project and revitalising the chassis base, which has its foundations in the Sauber team that Peter Sauber founded in 1993 but has suffered from years of underinvestment.
The team has shown promising signs of progress on track under their guidance. Audi have made a strong start to life in F1, scoring points on debut with Valtteri Bottas in Australia and almost making that back-to-back scores in China, with Nico Hulkenberg just missing out on a score in 11th and looking like they could contend at the top of the midfield.
This makes Wheatley’s sudden exit all the more remarkable. The timing is particularly curious given the apparent stability and forward momentum.
The move immediately fuels speculation about his next career step. However, sources say Aston Martin showed interest in Wheatley recently, enquiring whether he would consider a role with the Silverstone-based squad.
Aston Martin is currently undergoing a period of significant restructuring under executive chairman Lawrence Stroll. The team has struggled to recapture its early-2023 form and recently announced the departure of Technical Director Dan Fallows.
A figure of Wheatley’s immense experience would be a major coup for any team. His two decades at Red Bull, where he rose to Sporting Director, made him one of the most respected operational minds in the paddock.
Wheatley was relishing the role of Team Principal, too, having harboured ambitions of such a role throughout his time at Red Bull. Where he applies that expertise next will be one of the key stories to watch in the coming weeks.
For Audi, the search for a new team principal begins immediately. The task of integrating the powertrain division with the chassis team and preparing for a full works entry in 2026 continues unabated, now requiring a new leader at the helm of the race team.
Source: formula1.com