Jonathan Wheatley will depart from his role as Red Bull’s sporting director to assume the position of team principal at Audi’s Formula 1 team. The 57-year-old British executive has been with Red Bull for 18 years and will remain until the conclusion of the current season.
Red Bull announced the move, surprising Audi, which confirmed Wheatley’s appointment more than three hours later. According to Red Bull, Wheatley will enter a period of “gardening leave” next year, with Audi stating he would join by July 2025 at the latest. The statements from both organizations suggest that the terms of Wheatley’s transition have not yet been finalized.
Audi is set to take over the Swiss-based Sauber team and will officially enter Formula 1 with its own car and engine in 2026. Wheatley’s departure follows a week after Audi appointed former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto as chief operating and technical officer, replacing Andreas Seidl and Oliver Hoffmann.
In a statement, Audi indicated that Binotto and Wheatley would share responsibility for the success of the racing team, with clearly defined duties. Binotto will oversee the “operative management” of the team’s base in Hinwil, Switzerland, and lead the “technical development of future racing cars.” Wheatley’s focus will be on the racing performance of the F1 factory team, operational management at racing events, and representing Audi at the team principal level in F1 matters.
Audi CEO Gernot Dollner commented, “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 statement, expressed pride in his 18-year tenure at Red Bull Racing, stating, “I am extremely proud to have been a part of the Red Bull Racing journey over the last 18 years and 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.”
Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, acknowledged Wheatley’s contributions, saying his work has been pivotal to the team’s six world constructors’ titles and seven world drivers’ championships.
Red Bull indicated that a new team structure would be announced in the future. Wheatley gained significant recognition during the controversial 2021 world championship finale in Abu Dhabi when he successfully lobbied race director Michael Masi to restart the race after a safety car period. This decision allowed Max Verstappen to overtake Lewis Hamilton on the final lap to win the championship, despite Hamilton having led the race for most of the time. An inquiry by the FIA later attributed Masi’s actions to “human error.”
Wheatley is regarded as one of the most respected figures in Formula 1, having secured seven drivers’ titles and six constructors’ championships with Red Bull. Before his tenure at Red Bull, he worked with the Benetton/Renault team from 1991 to 2006, where he rose to the position of chief mechanic and contributed to two drivers’ titles with Michael Schumacher and one with Fernando Alonso.
Under Wheatley’s leadership, Red Bull has established itself as a leading team in the pit lane, consistently achieving the fastest pit stops. His move to Audi represents a significant career advancement, a step he has desired for some time.
Wheatley becomes the second key figure to leave Red Bull this season, following chief technical officer Adrian Newey, who will be free to work for another team starting March next year after negotiating an early exit.
