Audi F1 Boss Jonathan Wheatley Departs Team

Audi have confirmed that Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley has left the Formula 1 outfit with immediate effect, less than a year after joining the organisation.

Wheatley, a long-time Red Bull figure, took on the team boss role in April last year after moving to Kick Sauber, which transitioned into Audi’s works team for the 2026 season. He oversaw a strong period of progress, including multiple points finishes and Nico Hulkenberg’s first podium at Silverstone, helping lift the team from the bottom of the standings.

He also led the squad’s transformation into a full Audi works entry over the winter, marking the manufacturer’s debut in Formula 1 with an early points finish. However, just two races into the new season and regulatory era, the team confirmed Wheatley’s departure, citing personal reasons.

Mattia Binotto, head of the Audi F1 project, will assume Wheatley’s responsibilities for the time being, with further details on the leadership structure expected later.

«Due to personal reasons, Jonathan Wheatley will depart the team with immediate effect. The team thanks Jonathan for his contribution and wishes him the best for the future. Mattia Binotto will continue leading the project while taking on additional duties as Team Principal,» the announcement states.

The team added that its long-term structure will be clarified at a later stage as it adapts to Formula 1’s evolving landscape, with Audi maintaining its ambition to compete for championships by 2030.

Past and future speculations

Wheatley began his Formula 1 career with Benetton in the early 1990s, rising to Chief Mechanic and remaining through its Renault era. He later joined Red Bull in 2006, where he served as Sporting Director during a highly successful period that delivered six Constructors’ titles and seven Drivers’ championships, before moving to Sauber ahead of Audi’s entry into the sport.

It was also reported by many sources, that Jonathan Wheatley was approached by Aston Martin F1 team, as they intend to let Adrian Newey focus solely on developing the cars. At the time of these reports, Audi stated that there were no official updates regarding the topic.