Red Bull Racing’s long-serving sporting director, Jonathan Wheatley, is set to leave the Formula One champions at the end of the year to become the principal of Audi’s new F1 team. This announcement was made by Red Bull on Thursday.
Key Details
- Current Role: Sporting Director at Red Bull Racing
- New Role: Principal of Audi’s Formula One team
- Effective Date: Wheatley will depart at the end of the 2024 season.
- Audi’s Entry: Audi will enter Formula One with a factory team from 2026, taking over Swiss-based Sauber.
Red Bull’s Statement:
- Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team boss, praised Wheatley’s contributions, stating that he played a crucial role in securing six world constructors’ titles and seven drivers’ championships during his 18 years at the team.
- Horner noted that Wheatley would take a period of gardening leave in 2025 before starting his new role at Audi.
- The team will announce a new structure in the coming weeks and expressed gratitude for Wheatley’s contributions.
Changes at Audi
- Mattia Binotto: Former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto will lead Audi’s Formula One project starting Thursday. His official title will be Chief Operating and Chief Technical Officer at Sauber Motorsport. Binotto will be responsible for the team’s sporting success.
- Leadership Shifts: Audi recently saw departures from bosses Oliver Hoffmann and Andreas Seidl.
Recent Developments at Red Bull
- Technical Head: Red Bull’s technical head, Adrian Newey, announced his departure for early 2025 amid controversies related to team principal Christian Horner. Newey is widely regarded as one of the top designers in the sport.
- Engine Partnership: Red Bull will end their partnership with Honda after the 2024 season and will develop their own engines with Ford’s backing for the new power unit regulations starting in 2026.
- Current Standings: Red Bull is leading both championships after 14 races, with Max Verstappen on track for his fourth title
