There has been more stunning F1 news as Red Bull’s sporting director Jonathan Wheatley will depart the team at the end of the 2024 campaign.
The experienced British mechanic joined Red Bull Racing in 2006 following a 15-year spell at Enstone with Benetton/and Renault. He was part of a team that won three Drivers’ Championships with Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso (1994, 1995, 2005).
In his role at Red Bull Racing, he has become one of the key leaders of the team. As team manager and sporting director, he has worked to help the Red Bull pit crew become the best in the business in the pit lane.
During that hugely controversial and tense 2021 title fight, Wheatley was the Red Bull representative liaising with race director Michael Masi over incidents between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, including in Abu Dhabi.
During his time in Milton Keynes, they went from a midfield team at the beginning to consistent race and championship winners. Red Bull has won seven Drivers’ Championships, and they have taken six Constructors’ Championships.
For quite a few months, it had been suggested Wheatley was looking to leave as he wanted to become a team principal. Audi’s new F1 project has given him that chance.
Team Principal and CEO, Christian Horner said, “It has been a long and successful relationship with Jonathan, over 18 years. His contribution to six World Constructors’ Titles and seven World Drivers’ Championship, first as Team Manager and latterly Sporting Director will forever be a marker in our Team history.
“Jonathan will remain in his position until the end of the 2024 season, as the Team seek to defend both our World Drivers’ and World Constructors’ Titles successfully. A period of gardening leave will follow in 2025.
“Everyone at Oracle Red Bull Racing and Red Bull Technology wish him all the best in his new role and would like to place our thanks to Jonathan.
“Red Bull Racing have tremendous strength and depth and this provides opportunity to elevate others within the Team. We will announce a new Team structure in the coming weeks.”
Later in the afternoon, Audi confirmed Wheatley and Mattia Binotto would jointly manage operations at the team.
Jonathan Wheatley, the future Team Principal of the Audi F1 factory team, says: “I am extremely proud to have been a part of the Red Bull Racing journey over the last eighteen years and will leave with many fond memories.
“However, the opportunity to play an active part in Audi’s entry into Formula 1 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.“
Mattia Binotto, COO and CTO of Sauber Motorsport AG, says: “I have known Jonathan for many years and rate him highly as an experienced and committed motorsport expert. 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.“
