Jonathan Wheatley departs from Audi F1 position following Aston Martin speculation
Audi has announced the exit of team principal Jonathan Wheatley amid reports that he is set to succeed Adrian Newey in a similar capacity at Aston Martin.
On Thursday, ESPN reported that F1 design icon Newey is stepping back from his position as team principal to concentrate on his original role as executive chairman and managing technical partner, a position he resumed in early 2025.
Newey took on the role of team principal last November in addition to his broader responsibilities with the team.
Some media outlets had speculated that Wheatley would be his successor as the daily team leader, although sources have informed ESPN that an agreement has not yet been finalized.
On Friday, Audi revealed that Wheatley would be leaving the team immediately “for personal reasons,” and that F1 project head Mattia Binotto will temporarily assume his responsibilities.
Aston Martin has not yet disclosed who will fill the team principal role.
Shortly after Audi’s announcement, Aston Martin released a statement from team owner Lawrence Stroll addressing the recent speculation and emphasizing Newey’s significance to the organization.
Stroll’s statement read: “In light of the current speculation regarding Adrian Newey’s role within our team, I want to take this opportunity to clarify the situation.
“As Executive Chairman and Controlling Shareholder, I want to reaffirm that Adrian Newey is my partner and a key shareholder.
“He serves as AMR’s Managing Technical Partner, and he and I share a genuine partnership founded on a mutual vision for the company’s success.
“We operate differently here, and while we do not currently follow the conventional Team Principal model seen elsewhere, this is intentional.
“As the most accomplished engineer in the sport’s history, Adrian’s main focus is on strategic and technical leadership, where he excels. He is backed by a highly capable Senior Leadership Team to manage all facets of the business, both at the Campus and trackside.
“We are frequently approached by senior executives from other teams interested in joining Aston Martin Aramco, but in line with our policy, we do not comment on rumors and speculation.”
Wheatley’s departure from Audi occurs nearly one year after he joined the Swiss-based team.
Source: espn.com
