Audi confirms Jonathan Wheatley as Team Principal

The British will arrive “at the latest” in July 2025 according to the German brand. Wheatley is submissive, as is the case for the vast majority of "top brass" in Formula 1, during a so-called “gardening” period, which can last up to a year. This period prevents key team members from leaving directly for a new position, with secrets potentially known until the last moment.

Jonathan Wheatley will therefore report directly to Mattia Binotto, appointed last week as director of the Formula 1 project for the German automobile giant. These two arrivals face the departure of Andreas Seidl, who was the previous director of the project, before his departure and the arrival of Binotto. Audi boss Gernot Döllner explains that the hiring of Binotto and Wheatley further structures the project, which will arrive on the grid as a factory team in 2026, after another year of transition as a Sauber.

« 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 succeeded in combining an extremely high level of competence for Audi. Their experience and capabilities will help us quickly gain a foothold in the highly competitive world of Formula 1.”

An “exceptionally exciting” opportunity for Wheatley

For Jonathan Wheatley, who arrived in 2006 at Red Bull, this opportunity to take the helm of a Formula 1 factory team was simply too good to turn down. It will also be the first time that the 57-year-old Briton will be in charge of a team as Team Principal, after several years spent as Sporting Director, under the orders of Christian Horner at Red Bull.

« JI am extremely proud to have been part of the Red Bull Racing adventure over the last eighteen years and I will keep excellent memories.”, explains Wheatley. « However, the opportunity to play an active role in Audi's entry into Formula 1 as Team Principal of a factory team is an exceptionally exciting prospect, and I am looking forward to the challenge. I am also happy to work with Mattia, whom I have known for many years and who is the ideal person to collaborate on this exciting project. »

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