Red Bull’s long-serving sporting director Jonathan Wheatley will be leaving the Formula One champions at the end of the season to take on the role of Audi team principal next year. Audi, which is transforming Swiss-based Sauber into its factory team starting in 2026, announced that Wheatley will officially start by July next year at the latest. Wheatley, who has been with Red Bull for 18 years, played a crucial role in the team’s success, helping them secure six world constructors’ titles and seven world drivers’ championships.
Christian Horner, the team boss at Red Bull, expressed confidence in the team’s ability to fill Wheatley’s position internally. He mentioned that the departure of Wheatley presents an opportunity to promote others within the team, and they will be announcing a new team structure in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has joined Audi to lead the Formula One project, taking over from previous bosses Oliver Hoffmann and Andreas Seidl.
Audi’s CEO, Gernot Doellner, emphasized the importance of the new leadership team in ensuring a smooth entry into Formula One. He praised the high level of competence and experience that both Wheatley and Binotto bring to the table, highlighting their ability to navigate the competitive world of Formula One. Wheatley’s focus at Audi will be on racing performance and operational management of all race events, while Binotto will oversee the connection between the Hinwil factory and Audi’s engine plant in Germany.
The departure of Wheatley from Red Bull comes on the heels of technical head Adrian Newey’s announcement that he will be leaving in the first quarter of 2025. Additionally, there were allegations against Horner earlier in the season, which he was cleared of in February. Red Bull is also preparing to end its partnership with Honda at the end of next season and develop its own engine with support from Ford when Formula One transitions to a new power unit era in 2026.
Despite the upcoming changes, Red Bull is currently leading both championships after 14 races, with driver Max Verstappen in a strong position to secure his fourth title. The team’s success on the track reflects their commitment to excellence and determination to stay at the forefront of Formula One competition. As the sport continues to evolve, the decisions made by key figures like Wheatley and Binotto will play a crucial role in shaping the future of Audi’s Formula One team and the overall landscape of the sport.