Audi F1 Team have confirmed that Jonathan Wheatley has left his role as their team principal, with Mattia Binotto taking over. It remains to be seen whether the Italian will take this position on a full-time basis or a replacement for the former Red Bull man can be found.
On Thursday, Autosport/Motorsport reported Jonathan Wheatley would be signing for Aston Martin as their F1 Team Principal. The Brit is returning full-time to his home country due to personal reasons.
Following a near two-decade spell at Red Bull Racing, where he ultimately became the team’s Sporting Director, the former British mechanic wanted to pursue new opportunities and become a team boss in the sport. He signed for Sauber (now Audi) in 2024, completing his first race in the role at the 2025 Japanese GP.
However, just under a year after his first race with the team, Jonathan Wheatley has moved on. Should he sign for Aston Martin, he will be forced into a period of gardening leave.
Audi’s Head of F1 Project is no stranger to the Team Principal position. Mattia Binotto was Ferrari boss from 2019-2022. A very messy season on track saw him depart at the end of ’22.
Audi F1 Team statement on the departure of Jonathan Wheatley as Team Principal as Mattia Binotto steps in
“Due to personal reasons, Jonathan Wheatley will depart the team with immediate effect. The team thanks Jonathan for his contribution to the project and wishes him the best for his future endeavours.
“Mattia Binotto, Head of Audi F1 Project, will continue leading the team while taking over additional responsibilities as Team Principal. Since joining at the helm of the project in 2024, Mattia has been in charge of the transformation of the team as Audi prepared for and ultimately entered F1 as a chassis and power unit manufacturer.
“The team’s future structure will be fully defined at a later stage, as the organisation continues to adapt to the evolving environment of Formula One.
“With the unwavering commitment of AUDI AG, Audi Revolut F1 Team will continue progressing towards challenging for championships by 2030.”
