Jonathan Wheatley departs Red Bull to take on a new challenge as Audi F1’s Team Principal.
After months of speculation about his future with the team, Jonathan Wheatley will leave Red Bull. The sporting director of the reigning world champion team will join the Audi F1 project, where he will become the team principal.
Recently, rumors had positioned Jonathan Wheatley as a candidate for the director position at Alpine, but the French team ultimately hired Oliver Oakes. Speculation about Wheatley’s departure had quieted down recently.
The Briton will therefore become the director of Audi in F1, and he will be directly under the orders of Mattia Binotto, who will manage the operations of Sauber Motorsport, and thus of Audi. This marks another significant departure from Red Bull following Adrian Newey’s earlier in the season.
Wheatley will finish the season at Red Bull, after which he will have a gardening leave, a period during which he will not be able to work, before joining Audi. This period often ranges between six months and a year.
“Our relationship with Jonathan has been long and fruitful, lasting over 18 years,” said Christian Horner, director of Red Bull. “His contribution to six constructors’ world titles and seven drivers’ world championships, first as team director and then as sporting director, will forever be a hallmark in our team’s history.”
“Jonathan will remain in his position until the end of the 2024 season, as the team seeks to successfully defend its drivers’ and constructors’ world titles. A notice period will follow in 2025.”
“Everyone at Oracle Red Bull Racing and Red Bull Technology wishes him the best in his new role and wishes to extend their thanks to Jonathan. Red Bull Racing has considerable strength and depth, which provides the opportunity to promote other individuals within the team. We will announce the new team structure in the coming weeks.”
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Audi F1 Snags Wheatley After 18 Years at Red Bull Audi F1 Snags Wheatley After 18 Years at Red Bull
