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Wheatley reaction to Red Bull departure and Audi news

Wheatley and Binotto to share team boss role at Audi: this is what they say

1 August at 18:00
  • Nicole Mulder

Jonathan Wheatley and Mattia Binotto will jointly take on the role of team principal for Audi's Formula 1 project. Wheatley, currently sporting director at Red Bull Racing, will start working as team principal in a year's time at the latest. He and Binotto responded to the news in a joint statement.

Audi have deliberately chosen two leaders of management as part of a new structure for the future F1 team. Binotto, in particular, will take charge of technical matters as COO and CTO and will be a bridge between the development teams in Hinwil and Neuburg. Wheatley will mainly focus on the racing performance of the future F1 factory team, on the operational management of all racing events and on representing Audi in the role of team boss in all matters related to Formula 1.

Wheatley responds to departure from Red Bull

Wheatley is looking forward to his new adventure as team boss at Audi and also reacting for the first time to his announced departure from Red Bull. "I am extremely
proud to have been a part of the Red Bull Racing journey over the last eighteen years and will leave with many fond memories,"
said the 57-year-old Briton.

"However, the opportunity to play an active part in Audi’s entry into Formula 1 as head of a factory team is a uniquely exciting prospect, and I am looking forward to the challenge. Also I am glad to be working together with Mattia, whom I have known for many years and who is the right person to collaborate with in this exciting project."

Binotto is also looking forward to working together with Wheatley. "I have known Jonathan for many years and rate him highly as an experienced and committed motorsport expert. 2026 is not a long time away now, and I’m looking forward to setting up the new racing team for Audi along with Jonathan and leading it to success," said the former Ferrari team principal.

This article was written in collaboration with Kada Sarkozi