F1 News: Wheatley to leave Red Bull for Audi Team boss job

Sauber/Audi Press Release

Sauber Motorsport, the Audi F1 factory team from 2026 onwards, has secured a top-ranking expert for its ambitious Formula One project as it announces the future appointment of Jonathan Wheatley as Team Principal at the latest from halfway in the 2025 season. In this role, Wheatley will join COO and CTO, Mattia Binotto, to form a pairing that will lead the management team at Sauber Motorsport AG.2

With the recent realignment of the management group team of the future Audi F1 factory team with Binotto joining the team, the appointment of Wheatley represents the next logical step for the team – one that brings to the team the services of one of the most respected and successful individuals in the sport.

Wheatley’s career in Formula One started at Benetton Formula One back in the early 1990s, where he rose to become chief mechanic. He then moved to the newly founded Red Bull Racing team, where he achieved considerable success as Sporting Director: in his time in Milton Keynes, Wheatley was involved in winning all of the six team’s constructor’s and seven Driver’s World Championships.

In their new positions, both Binotto and Wheatley will report directly to Gernot Döllner in his role as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sauber Motorsport AG. With a clear division of duties, and individually defined responsibilities, they will jointly take responsibility for the success of the racing team.

As COO and CTO, Binotto takes over the operative management of Sauber Motorsport AG at the site in Hinwil and the technical development of the future racing cars; in this role, he is the overall technical interface between the development teams in Hinwil and that in Neuburg an der Donau, which is responsible for development of the power unit.

By July 2025 at the latest, Wheatley will complete Audi’s new management team for Formula One in the role of Team Principal and management spokesperson. He will focus above all on the racing performance of the future F1 factory team, on operational management of all race events, and on representing Audi at Team Principal level in matters relating to Formula One.

The decision in favour of a dual management team is part of the realignment of the control structure of the future factory team in the context of the full takeover of all Sauber Group shares by Audi.

Gernot Döllner, CEO of AUDI AG and Chairmain of the Board of Directors of Sauber Motorsport: “I am delighted that we have been able to appoint Jonathan Wheatley as Team Principal for our future Formula One team. Jonathan has played a major part in many race victories and World Championship titles in his Formula One career so far and has extensive experience in the paddock. He is a very valuable addition to our team. With the appointment of Jonathan and Mattia, we have taken a decisive step towards our entry into Formula One. I am convinced that, with the two of them, we have been able to combine an extremely high level of competence for Audi. Their experience and their ability will help us to get a foothold quickly in the tough competitive world of Formula One.”

Jonathan Wheatley, future Team Principal of the Audi F1 factory team: “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 One as head of a factory team is a uniquely exciting prospect, and I am looking forward to the challenge. I am also 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: “I have known Jonathan for many years and rate him highly as an experienced and committed motorsport expert. 2026, when Audi will join Formula One as a factory team, 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.”

August 1, 2024

Jonathan Wheatley will leave his role as Red Bull sporting director at the end of 2024 to become team principal of Audi’s Formula 1 team.

Wheatley is set to assume his new role at Audi in preparation for the German brand’s first season in F1 in 2026, and will serve a period of gardening leave upon departing from Red Bull at the end of the year.

“It has been a long and successful relationship with Jonathan, over 18 years,” said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.

“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.”

Red Bull Press Release

Today, Oracle Red Bull Racing announce the departure of Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley, as he heads to a new challenge, taking up the role of Team Principal with the Audi F1 Project.

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.