Wheatley to Depart Red Bull for Audi Team Principal Position

Jonathan Wheatley is set to leave his position as sporting director at Red Bull to take on the role of Formula 1 team principal for Audi. The 57-year-old Brit has spent 18 years at Red Bull and will remain with the team until the conclusion of the current season.

The announcement of Wheatley's move was made by Red Bull, surprising Audi, which later confirmed his appointment over three hours later. According to Red Bull, Wheatley will enter a period of "gardening leave" in 2025, with Audi stating he will join by "July 2025 at the latest." The phrasing in both statements suggests that the terms of Wheatley's transition have not yet been finalized between Red Bull and Audi.

Audi has taken ownership of the Swiss-based Sauber team and is preparing to officially enter Formula 1 with its own car and engine in 2026. The announcement of Wheatley's transition comes just a week after Audi appointed former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto as chief operating and technical officer, taking over from Andreas Seidl and Oliver Hoffmann.

In a statement, Audi highlighted that Binotto and Wheatley would "jointly take responsibility for the success of the racing team" with clearly defined roles. Binotto will handle "operative management" at the team's Hinwil base in Switzerland and oversee the "technical development of the future racing cars." Wheatley will concentrate on the racing performance of the F1 factory team, operational management during racing events, and representing Audi at the team principal level regarding F1 matters.

Audi's CEO Gernot Dollner stated: "With the appointment of Jonathan and Mattia, we have taken a decisive step towards our entry into Formula 1. I am convinced that with the two of them, we have been able to combine an extremely high level of competence for Audi. Their experience and their ability will help us to get a foothold quickly in the tough competitive world of Formula 1."

Wheatley, who was not quoted in Red Bull's initial announcement, expressed pride in his 18-year tenure at Red Bull Racing, stating: "I will leave with many fond memories. However, the opportunity to play an active part in Audi's entry into F1 as head of a factory team is a uniquely exciting prospect, and I am looking forward to the challenge."

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner acknowledged Wheatley's significant contributions, noting that his role in securing six world constructors' titles and seven world drivers' championships "will forever be a marker in our team history." A new team structure at Red Bull is expected to be announced later.

Wheatley gained notoriety during the controversial 2021 world championship finale in Abu Dhabi, where he successfully advocated for a race restart after a safety car period. Race director Michael Masi's decision to restart the race led to Red Bull's Max Verstappen overtaking Lewis Hamilton on the final lap to secure the championship. An FIA inquiry later labeled Masi's actions as "human error."

Regarded as one of the top senior operatives in F1, Wheatley has helped Red Bull achieve seven drivers' titles and six constructors' championships. Before joining Red Bull, he worked with the Benetton/Renault team from 1991 to 2006, where he advanced to the role of chief mechanic and contributed to two drivers' titles with Michael Schumacher and two with Fernando Alonso.

Under Wheatley's sporting leadership, Red Bull has established itself as a leading team in the pit lane, consistently recording the fastest pit stops. He has also played a key role in the sporting committee that shapes regulatory aspects of the sport.

Wheatley's move to Audi represents a long-desired opportunity for career advancement. He is the second high-profile figure to depart Red Bull this season, following chief technical officer Adrian Newey's decision to leave. Newey has negotiated an early exit and will be free to join another team starting in March of next year.