Red Bull has announced that Jonathan Wheatley, its Formula One sporting director, will leave after 18 years to become Audi’s team principal.
Wheatley, 57, has worked at Red Bull since 2006, serving as a key part of its pit wall throughout its championship successes with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.
But he will now leave Red Bull to become the team principal of Audi’s F1 team, which will evolve out of the existing Sauber operation in 2026.
Red Bull announced Wheatley’s upcoming departure on Thursday. He will continue in his role through the remainder of the 2024 season before a period of gardening leave in 2025.
“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.”
Wheatley’s departure is the second major change to occur at Red Bull in the past six months following confirmation that its chief technical officer, Adrian Newey, would be leaving after 19 years.
Wheatley helped oversee Red Bull’s sporting operations, most notably helping it set a number of world records for the quickest pit stops as the team established itself as the most consistent and fastest team servicing its cars during races.
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Red Bull said in the statement announcing Wheatley’s departure that it “tremendous strength and depth and this provides opportunity to elevate others within the team.” The team plans to announce a new team structure “in the coming weeks.”
The signing of Wheatley is the latest major change by Audi within its F1 preparations. The German manufacturer hired ex-Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto to become its chief operating and chief technical officer, replacing Andreas Seidl and Oliver Hoffmann, who had previously overseen the project.
Audi announced its plan to enter F1 in 2022, acquiring the Sauber team and commencing on an engine program ahead of the new regulations that will arrive in 2026, when the Swiss-based squad will be rebranded.
Sauber currently lies at the foot of the F1 constructors’ championship after failing to score any points in the opening 14 races of the 2024 season.
(Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images)
