Jonathan Wheatley takes the reins at Sauber, ready to steer the team into a new era under Audi’s ambitious F1 project.
Jonathan Wheatley, the new team principal at Sauber (with Mattia Binotto overseeing Audi’s project from Hinwil), is about to experience his first real test this weekend in Bahrain.
Having moved from Red Bull as the team’s former sporting director, Wheatley takes on an entirely new role at Sauber. This isn’t just a change of teams and position, but also a shift in lifestyle. How has his transition been so far?
“Honestly, it’s exciting,” Wheatley shares. “I’m really pumped up. There’s a fresh energy within the team, especially with the transition from Sauber to the Audi F1 project. Honestly, I feel like I’m exactly where I need to be.”
“My family and I have relocated to Switzerland – it’s an amazing country that I’d only passed through before. We genuinely feel at home here. We’re building our life here, and I’m really comfortable at Sauber.”
For the first time in his career, Wheatley is now a team principal, a long journey from his roots as a mechanic.
“For those who don’t know, I started in Formula 1 as a mechanic back in 1991, and I carved my own path. At one point, I had to choose between a technical role, like becoming a chief engineer, or management.”
“I’m very much a hands-on person, and it’s the people who motivate me. I get excited about team collaboration, building a collective. I’ve developed my own approach to leadership. Every team principal does it their own way, but I think at this level, everyone understands what it takes to make a team function.”
Moving from Red Bull, one of the top teams in Formula 1, to Sauber, one of the more modest teams, is a major change. How has the transition felt for him?
“Honestly, it’s been very positive. There’s a great energy in the team, and there’s real enthusiasm around the project. Some of the people here understand what it’s like to work in a smaller setup that’s beginning to grow.”
“People look you in the eye. I feed off that energy. It’s a great time to be here.”
“I’ve only been in the role for two weeks. I’m trying to use my eyes, ears, and mouth in equal measure – which isn’t always easy for me – and gathering as much information as I can.”
“I have a plan that I’m trying to stick to, to stay focused on my initial intentions. But right now, I see a fantastic energy within the organization, a real excitement.”
Has Wheatley learned a lot from Christian Horner during his time at Red Bull? Will he try to replicate his methods at Sauber?
“I think I’ve learned from everyone I’ve worked with over my 34 years in the business. I wouldn’t single anyone out because you learn every day in this role.”
“I’ve always been attentive, listening, observing how people react. I’ve worked with people I respect, and I spent 19 years with my previous team. I want to be a team principal in my own way. I want to lead alongside Mattia, based on my own principles. I’ve always had strong convictions. I have a plan to start this transformation and maintain momentum. And I’ll say it again: it’s the people within the team that are my priority.”
Has Wheatley set goals for Sauber this year? Is the focus on avoiding last place in the Constructors’ Championship, or is the team more focused on next year’s transformation into Audi?
“I’m working on defining my medium-term goals, and then I’ll start planning for the long term. Like I said, I’ve only been here for two weeks, and I’ve probably spent as much time in the air as at the factory. So, right now, I’m listening and learning.”
“I’ve set an objective for the first three races – a triple header. It’s really useful to see how a team reacts during a triple-header, how we handle damage, recovery, fatigue… It gives a great insight into the overall functioning of the team. I’m trying not to jump to conclusions. I write a lot of notes and try to organize them. What encourages me is the openness and the willingness to learn that I’ve seen in the team. There’s positive energy here. It’s a human job. Without creative energy, you don’t move forward. Our plan is to build on this momentum, step by step.”
“This is a small team in transition towards becoming a factory team. There are a lot of projects underway, and one of them is uniting the people. As a team, we need to learn to embrace discomfort because change is coming. We need to lead that change and have a clear roadmap. I believe we’re on the right track.”
Wheatley also has to navigate multiple cultures, as Sauber-Audi is both Swiss and German, with a new base in the UK. Does this complex geographic setup pose any challenges?
“So far, I haven’t encountered any issues with language or the way things are done. There’s a real openness to learning. I’m planning to learn German – but please don’t test me on that just yet. It’s one of the challenges of the role, and as you know, we want to broaden our horizons.”
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Wheatley Embraces New Challenge at Sauber-Audi F1 Wheatley Embraces New Challenge at Sauber-Audi F1
