Why Red Bull's Jonathan Wheatley is the perfect Audi team principal
F1 News
When Jonathan Wheatley first said to other teams that he was open for a transfer, to then work as team principal, there were no doubt some enthusiastic responses within some boardrooms. The current sporting director of Red Bull Racing, taking a first look at it, is an ideal candidate for any F1 team to be team principal. That two teams are immediately interested makes perfect sense given the Briton's profile.
During the weeks when Christian Horner 's position was under severe pressure following the first allegations of transgressive behaviour, Wheatley was widely seen as the logical replacement for the British team principal. Wheatley has been with Red Bull Racing since 2006 and knows the team inside and out. His dossier of knowledge is second to none; both in terms of technical (Wheatley was the Chief Mechanic at his previous employer Benetton) and sporting regulations. It is Wheatley who liaises with the FIA, inside and outside race weekends.
Wheatley highly respected
Moreover - and this is perhaps key in the job - Wheatley is a particularly well-liked personality within the team. Not someone who puts himself far too emphatically in the foreground, but always ready to help whoever knocks on his door - from driver to coffee lady. Other teams in the F1 paddock know that too.
With Red Bull keeping GmbH Horner for now - which has already led to the departure of Adrian Newey - Wheatley has probably weighed up what his future at Red Bull looks like in the near future. The conclusion seems simple: he is sporting director, but further promotion is not in the cards for now. He certainly does not have to leave - talks are even underway to extend his contract - but if the 56-year-old wants to stand on his own two feet again, it should be elsewhere.
As previously reasoned by GPblog, there are currently only two logical destinations for Wheatley as team principal. First is Alpine, a team that seems to have been in total chaos for years. Wheatley would be the ideal man to create calm within the team, but given the French's track record, he is unlikely to have much time to do so. Indeed, Alpine has in recent years proved a master at dumping executives before they have even started properly.
Wheatley ideal for Audi
Far better suited to Wheatley would be the ambitious Audi project; the German manufacturer taking over Sauber from 2026 onwards. After Audi announced it was taking over Sauber completely, the project has gained momentum: the first driver (Nico Hulkenberg) has been secured, dozens of new staff have been recruited and budgets seem endless. Now someone is still needed to manage it all.
CEO Andrea Seidl is the man in the background, not aspiring to sit at the pit wall for 24 Grands Prix. Alessandro Alunni Bravi has currently taken on that task, officially under the title of team representative. However, the affable Italian lacks the charisma and natural superiority necessary to actually help Sauber move forward in its transition to Audi.
Knowledge from Red Bull to Audi
Wheatley does have that thanks to his years of experience. What makes him especially interesting for Audi: the Briton is someone who knows what it is like to turn a modest team - in this case Red Bull - into one of the best in Formula 1. Wheatley is a winner, who can pinpoint exactly what it takes to reach the absolute top. Moreover, his technical knowledge is such that he can no doubt bring some interesting ins-and-outs from the RB18 to the RB20.
With Wheatley now emphatically on the market, there should really be no doubt for Audi: this is the right man to help the new team to success in Formula 1.