F1: Red Bull’s Jonathan Wheatley to join Audi

Jonathan Wheatley will step down as Red Bull sporting director at the end of 2024 to take up the role of team principal of Audi’s Formula One team. After leaving Red Bull, Wheatley took a short break before joining Audi, which will make its Formula One debut in 2026. Wheatley has been a key figure at Red Bull since 2006, contributing to its two championship wins as team manager and sporting director. His departure follows closely on the heels of Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey, who will also leave at the end of the year. Meanwhile, Audi is reshuffling its management. CEO Andreas Seidl and chief representative Oliver Hofmann have been fired as Audi prepares to enter Formula One. Former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has been appointed chief operating officer and chief technical officer. Binotto’s first task will be to find a second driver to partner Nico Hulkenberg, especially after Audi’s top target Carlos Sainz signed with Williams and rejected offers from Audi and Alpine.

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Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner said: “We have had a very successful partnership with Jonathan for over 18 years. He has won six World Constructors’ Championships and seven World Drivers’ Championships, first as Team Manager and then as Sporting Director, and his contributions will forever be etched in our team’s history.

“Jonathan will remain in his role until the end of the 2024 season as the team works towards the successful defence of our world drivers’ and world constructors’ titles. There will be a sabbatical period in 2025.”

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“Everyone at Oracle Red Bull Racing and Red Bull Technologies wishes him all the best in his new role and would like to thank Jonathan. Red Bull Racing is a strong team and this provides the opportunity to improve other members of the team. We will be announcing the new team structure in the coming weeks.

Whitley will take on the role of team principal of Audi’s Hinwil-based Formula One team, reporting directly to Mattia Binotto, who has been appointed chief operating officer and chief technical officer, as the team’s organizational structure is being finalized.