Paris France.- Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley will leave the ranks of the current champion to become the future director of the Audi team. Credit: Special
British sporting director Jonathan Wheatley of the Red Bull team has left the ranks of the current world champion to become the future director of the Audi team, which will debut on the F1 grid in 2026, Wheatley announced on Thursday.
At Red Bull since 2006, Wheatley, 57, has been involved in all of the Austrian firm’s major successes, including seven Drivers’ World Championship titles (four for Sebastian Vettel from 2010 to 2013 and three for Max Verstappen from 2021 to 2023) and six Constructors’ Championships (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2022, 2023).
“His contribution (…) both as team principal and sporting director, will forever mark the history of our team,” team boss Christian Horner said in a statement.
Jonathan Wheatley “will remain in his post until the end of the 2024 season,” Red Bull said, with the aim of “defending his world championship titles.”
The announcement comes alongside Audi’s appointment of former Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto as the new technical and operations director of Sauber Motorsport AG. Jonathan Wheatley will report to him.
This year, Audi, part of the Volkswagen family, announced that it had completed the acquisition of the Swiss team Sauber.
#Wheatley #steps #Red #Bull #sporting #director
