Audi F1 team principal Wheatley leaves 'with immediate effect'

Scott Mitchell-Malm

20 Mar 2026 — 1 min read

Former team principal Jonathan Wheatley has left Audi’s Formula 1 team, as he is expected to take up the same role at rival Aston Martin instead.

Aston Martin wants a dedicated team principal after managing technical partner Adrian Newey adopted the role for 2026 alongside his main responsibilities.

The move was widely expected to be a stop-gap solution - although when it was announced in November 2025 it was framed as a definitive measure.

It appears to have been too distracting, though, especially as Aston Martin is battling serious problems with new works engine partner Honda - and has yet to finish either of the opening two races with either of its cars.

It emerged earlier this week that Wheatley, who worked with Newey at Red Bull previously, was Aston Martin’s primary target.

Audi initially refused to engage in the speculation but left the door open to a change with a non-denial denial on Thursday.

And on Friday it confirmed “significant changes to its senior management structure”, with the news that Wheatley will depart “with immediate effect”.

The Race understands that, while this "immediate" exit pertains the F1 team, he will remain contracted on an undisclosed period of gardening leave before he's free to make his next move.

Audi cites “personal reasons” for Wheatley’s exit, with the Briton widely reported as being keen to relocate back to the UK from Switzerland, where the Sauber company operating Audi’s F1 team is based.

Audi’s F1 project leader Mattia Binotto will now take on the team principal responsibilities as well.

However, further changes are coming, as Audi said its “future structure will be fully defined at a later stage”.