Jonathan Wheatley, the team principal of the forthcoming Audi F1 outfit, has proclaimed that he would like to secure Max Verstappen’s services once they are worthy of the four-time world champion.
Verstappen found himself at the centre of driver market speculation throughout the first half of the 2025 F1 season, with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff actively pursuing the Red Bull driver.
Amidst crucial changes to the ownership structure of Red Bull Racing’s parent company and Christian Horner leaving his post as team principal and CEO, the Dutchman ultimately rubbished the rumours ahead of the Hungarian GP and reaffirmed his commitment to the Milton Keynes outfit for 2026.
Wheatley, who spent 18 years at Red Bull as Team Manager and Sporting Director, is well acquainted with Verstappen, having witnessed his rise from a teenager at satellite squad Toro Rosso to a multiple-time champion.
Wheatley admits Audi want Verstappen in their car
Max Verstappen establishing himself as the most decorated driver of F1’s current ground effect era has undoubtedly put him at the top of every team principal’s wishlist. Although Red Bull have managed to keep hold of him for the time being, the Dutchman’s remarkable abilities combined with his age will continue to propel him as a lucrative prospect for any team looking to the future.
Speaking to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf at an Audi event in Munich, Jonathan Wheatley admitted that a driver of Verstappen’s stature would be a coveted signing. Emphasising the strong bond he shares not only with the 28-year-old but also with his family and manager, the Brit also implied that the trust he has built would play an instrumental role in luring the 68-time race winner to the German F1 squad in the future.
“Yes, I want Max Verstappen to drive our car. What kind of team principal would I be if I didn’t want that?
“I’m in the fortunate position of having been friends with Max for a long time, but also with his father, Jos, and manager, Raymond [Vermeulen]. And such a friendship develops because you’re always honest and you never betray the trust you’ve built.”
Audi not appealing enough for Verstappen yet
The German automotive manufacturer will complete their full takeover of Sauber and make their F1 debut in 2026 with their own chassis and power unit. Jonathan Wheatley will oversee the transition as team principal, while Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto will continue into the Audi era as the squad’s driver line-up next season.
With Audi’s current iteration Sauber sitting ninth in the F1 championship standings and the uncertainty that new technical regulations can bring, Wheatley conceded that his operation was not yet compelling enough for the star driver, Max Verstappen.
“I don’t think that’s enough right now to directly link Verstappen to a Formula 1 seat at Audi.”
In terms of their lofty ambitions, Wheatley stated that Audi’s target was to compete with the top teams on the F1 grid and challenge for the title in five years’ time.
Despite the success they have previously tasted in other motorsport categories and the pool of talented people they currently boast, the 58-year-old also acknowledged the steep learning curve Audi would face in the coming years as they strive to transform themselves into a championship-winning outfit.
“We want to fight with teams like McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull. They have been around for a long time, have achieved many successes, and have excellent people working throughout their organisations.
“I’m not saying we don’t have that, but we still have to reach that level. If someone misses a race for any reason, there has to be another equally talented person ready to step in.
“Audi’s investment is tremendous, and the goal of fighting for the title in 2030 is aggressive, but in my eyes, certainly achievable.”
