Wheatley to leave Red Bull for Audi team principal job

Jonathan Wheatley joined Red Bull in 2006

Jonathan Wheatley is to leave his role as Red Bull sporting director to become Audi's Formula 1 team principal.

The 57-year-old Briton has been at Red Bull for 18 years and will stay until the end of this season.

The move was initially announced by Red Bull to the surprise of Audi, which confirmed Wheatley's appointment more than three hours later.

Wheatley will have a period of 'gardening leave' next year, according to Red Bull, and Audi said he would join "by July 2025 at the latest".

The wording of the two statements indicates Red Bull and Audi have not yet agreed the terms of Wheatley's move.

Audi has taken over the Swiss-based Sauber team and will officially enter F1 with its own car and engine in 2026.

News of Wheatley's move comes a week after Audi named former Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto as chief operating and technical officer, replacing Andreas Seidl and Oliver Hoffmann.

Audi said in a statement that Binotto and Wheatley would "jointly take responsibility for the success of the racing team" and that there was "a clear division of duties, and responsibilities have been individually defined".

Binotto will lead "operative management" of the team's base at Hinwil in Switzerland and "technical development of the future racing cars".

Wheatley "will focus on the racing performance of the F1 factory team, operational management at racing events and representing Audi at team principal level in matters relating to F1".

Audi chief executive officer Gernot Dollner said: "With the appointment of Jonathan and Mattia we have taken a decisive step towards our entry into Formula 1.

"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 1."

Wheatley, who was not quoted in Red Bull's initial statement, said: "I am extremely proud to have been a part of the Red Bull Racing journey over the last 18 years and will leave with many fond memories.

"However, the opportunity to play an active part in Audi’s entry into F1 as head of a factory team is a uniquely exciting prospect, and I am looking forward to the challenge."

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said Wheatley's "contribution to six world constructors' titles and seven world drivers' championships, first as team manager and latterly sporting director, will forever be a marker in our team history".

Red Bull's statement said a new team structure would be announced at a later date.

Wheatley became widely known following the controversial 2021 world championship finale in Abu Dhabi, when he successfully lobbied race director Michael Masi to restart the race one lap from the end after a safety car period.

Masi over-rode the rules to do so, ignoring stipulations about restart timing and the handling of lapped cars, and the decision led to Red Bull's Max Verstappen passing Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes on the final lap to clinch the world title.

Hamilton had dominated the race up to that point and was on course to beat Verstappen to the championship.

A subsequent inquiry held by governing body the FIA put Masi's actions down to "human error". The Australian had by that point already left his role with the FIA.

Wheatley is one of the most highly regarded senior operatives in F1. He has won seven drivers' titles and six constructors' championships with Red Bull.

Before joining the team, he was at the Benetton/Renault team from 1991 to 2006, rising through the ranks to become chief mechanic.

During his time there, the team won two drivers' titles with Michael Schumacher in 1994-95, and in 2005 with Fernando Alonso, who also won in 2006.

Red Bull under Wheatley's sporting leadership have become the best-drilled team in the pit lane, regularly leading the charts for fastest pit stops.

He has also been instrumental in the sporting committee that oversees the moulding of that side of the regulations.

Audi's move for Wheatley marks an opportunity for career progression, which he has said he has wanted for some time.

He is the second major figure to leave Red Bull this season, following the decision of chief technical officer Adrian Newey to quit.

Newey, who negotiated an early exit, is free to work for another team from March next year.