Audi F1 Principal Wheatley Departs, Binotto Steps In

Jonathan Wheatley has abruptly departed as team principal of the Audi Formula 1 team, less than a year after taking the role, leaving the squad to navigate its challenging debut season under interim leadership. The announcement came last Friday, following the Chinese Grand Prix, with Audi citing personal reasons for the British executive's immediate exit from the Hinwil-based outfit.

Mattia Binotto, head of Audi's F1 project and former Ferrari team principal, has assumed Wheatley's responsibilities on a temporary basis. Sources close to the team indicate Binotto prefers to focus on the broader development of Audi's entry into the sport, rather than a long-term paddock presence. No timeline has been set for a permanent replacement, though the team plans to define its structure as the season progresses. Wheatley, who joined in 2025 after an 18-year stint at Red Bull, contributed to operational improvements during Audi's transition from the Sauber identity, helping the team secure ninth place with 70 points in its final customer year.

The departure blindsided Audi amid a rocky start to its first full season as a works team in 2026. The squad sits eighth in the constructors'...