Jonathan Wheatley leads Sauber through a cultural evolution, preparing the team for its future transformation into a full-fledged Audi F1 contender.
Jonathan Wheatley, the former sporting director at Red Bull Racing, has taken on a new challenge as team principal at Sauber F1. Now based in Switzerland, he’s adjusting not only to a new environment but also to a very different kind of organization — one that’s on the path to becoming Audi’s official F1 team.
Speaking on the Formula 1 podcast Beyond The Grid, Wheatley reflected on the contrast between his past and present. “One’s in Switzerland, the other’s in Milton Keynes,” he joked when asked about the biggest differences between Red Bull and Sauber. “But seriously, it’s a completely different world.”
He compared the shift to his 2006 move from Renault F1 to Red Bull. “There’s a great spirit at Sauber, but when a team starts growing into a major player, everything changes — the structure, the mindset, the long-term vision. That kind of transformation demands a totally different perspective.”
One of the biggest practical challenges, he noted, is space. “We’re hiring, but the office isn’t growing fast enough. Right now, we have people crammed into tight areas, but a proper expansion is already in the works.”
Wheatley is especially focused on building the team — not just in numbers, but in culture. For him, success starts with the right people and the right mindset.
“A team is more than just headcount. With the right energy and shared purpose, you can achieve incredible things. I’ve seen it happen,” he said. “But for that to be consistent across every department, every day, it takes time. You can’t transform a team in six months. It takes years to build that kind of culture.”
As Sauber moves toward its future as Audi F1, Wheatley’s mission is clear — create a unified, high-performing team ready to compete at the highest level.
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Wheatley Plots Long-Term Culture Shift as Sauber Eyes Audi Wheatley Plots Long-Term Culture Shift as Sauber Eyes Audi
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