Wheatley Leaves Audi After 3 Races, Linked to Aston Martin

Jonathan Wheatley, the former team principal of Audi's Formula One entry, has departed the team after just three races in the 2026 season, fueling speculation that he could soon join Aston Martin to help steady its turbulent management structure. The British motorsport veteran left Audi on March 20 for personal reasons, according to the team's announcement, just as rumors intensified about a potential role at the Silverstone-based outfit, where he previously worked alongside key figures during his time at Red Bull.

Aston Martin has endured a challenging start to the 2026 campaign under new technical regulations, marked by mechanical issues and organizational upheaval. The team missed nearly all of preseason testing in Barcelona due to production delays, and vibrations from the Honda power unit plagued both cars in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, preventing drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll from completing the full distance. In Japan, Alonso managed a lone finish for the team, albeit a lap down, after temporary dampening measures proved unreliable during qualifying and the race.

Adrian Newey, Aston Martin's managing technical partner and current team principal,...