Jonathan Wheatley's departure was "sudden" for Audi, which is now looking for a replacement.

En Formula 1There are many changes in the main team. People move from one team to another or from one category to another. Some have been there for ages, like Toto wolff, who arrived in 2013 at the head of Mercedes Benz Others return more than ten years after their last stint, like Graeme Lowdon at Cadillac. And still others have been there for thirty years, without interruption, walking the Formula 1 paddock in various roles until they reached the ultimate position of team principal. Jonathan Wheatley's long career took him from Benetton to Red Bull, Via Renault, until the new Audi project entrusted him with the reins for the first time as team director.

But the romance lasted only a year before the former Red Bull sporting director suddenly left, after only two Grands Prix in 2026, the first two for the four-ringed firm in Formula 1. "It was very quick, very unexpected for the whole team. It was a really abrupt start, a sudden change." Mattia Binotto, the head of Audi's F1 project, who jointly managed the project with Wheatley, conceded to the official Formula 1 media: the Italian at the factory, the Briton in the paddocks.

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A replacement is on the way

The former director of the Team Ferrari reportedly had a difficult relationship with Jonathan Wheatley, which allegedly led the Briton to abruptly quit. Without going into detail, Mattia Binotto maintains that personal reasons prompted Wheatley's departure.“I don’t think there’s much to say. He spoke with our CEO and the team’s board, explaining that he couldn’t make a long-term commitment for private reasons that we can neither judge nor comment on.” explains Binotto. “We at Audi decided, given that he couldn’t commit, to relieve him of his duties. I don’t think we, as a team, have really grasped it yet. It was just last week and now we’re here in Japan, with a race weekend ahead of us.”

Now, it's time for a reorganization at Audi, with Mattia Binotto temporarily taking over as team principal. But the Italian doesn't see himself returning to active paddock duties long-term and has already begun the search for a successor to Jonathan Wheatley. "When such changes occur, major changes, you first have to acknowledge them, understand their impact, and get organized. Given his skills and the role he held, we have to fill this void," admits the 56-year-old engineer. “I can’t just keep adding more and more responsibilities and tasks to myself. My main focus is at the factory, where we need to transform the team, develop the car and the power unit. So I’ll need someone to support the team here during race weekends.”

A new signing is therefore expected — Christian Horner is still available… — and should be announced soon.“We’re considering it. We’re going to get organized and I’m quite sure we’ll be able to announce it very soon.” " announces Mattia Binotto. Before that, we need to refocus on the track and hope to score points in Japan after a blank weekend in China.