Audi has formally announced that current Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley has signed a deal to take over as team principal for their new factory team which will debut in 2026.
The news was broken by Red Bull on Thursday afternoon. The timing appeared to catch Audi off-guard and it was some time later before the German manufacturer confirmed the signing of "a further top-ranking expert for its ambitious F1 project."
Audi AG CEO Gernot Dollner explained that the principal focus behind the decision to hire Wheatley was about securing experienced team members who are fully aware of what it takes to be competitive.
“I am delighted that we have been able to gain Jonathan Wheatley as team principal for our future Formula 1 team,” Dollner said.
"“Jonathan has played a major part in many Formula 1 race victories and world championship titles in his Formula 1 career so far, and has extensive experience in the paddock. He is a very valuable addition to our team."
The news comes in the wake of the shock exit of Andreas Seidl and Oliver Hoffmann from the Audi project amid reports of rifts between the pair, and the appointment of ex-Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto as chief operating and chief technical officer.
“With the appointment of Jonathan and Mattia we have taken a decisive step towards our entry into Formula 1,” Dollner continued.
"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 F1.”
Wheatley will be required to spend some time on 'gardening leave' to safe guard sensitive commercial and technical information from going to Red Bull's rivals but is expected to be in post at Hinwil toward the end of 2025.
Audi said that it hoped Wheatley would be part of the team's set-up and be working for them "by July 2025 at the latest" suggesting a 12-month hiatus, but Red Bull say they expect Wheatley to stay with them until the end of 2024.
Audi says that Wheatley's main focus would be on "the racing performance of the future F1 factory team, on operational management of all race events, and on representing Audi at team principal level in matters relating to F1".
He will be reporting to Binotto who has overall responsibility for the strategic direction of the team, and for liaising between the two main locations in Hinwil (chassis) and Neuburg (engine).
The initial Red Bull press release did not include any comments from the 57-year-old who has been at the team since 2006, but the statement from Audi included his comments on his excitement for the future.
©Audi/Sauber
“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,” Wheatley is quoted as saying..
“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.
“Also I am glad to be working together with Mattia, whom I have known for many years and who is the right person to collaborate with in this exciting project.”
Binotto himself made it clear that he held Wheatley in equally high regard and was looking forward to getting to work with at Audi.
“I have known Jonathan for many years and rate him highly as an experienced and committed motorsport expert,” Binotto said.
“2026 is not a long time away now, and I’m looking forward to setting up the new racing team for Audi, along with Jonathan, and leading it to success.”
Audi won't formally line-up on the grid until the start of 2026, but continues to operate under the Sauber name for the time being with drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu.
Neither driver is expected to transition to the factory team set-up. Current Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg was signed by Seidl as one of the 2026 line-up.
The news will be a blow to Red Bull coming just months after their chief technical designer Adrian Newey handed in his resignation. Wheatley is seen as Christian Horner's key right hand man in the paddock and at the team HQ in Milton Keynes.
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