Audi stabilizes F1 team as Binotto covers Wheatley's role

Audi announced Jonathan Wheatley left its F1 operation earlier this month, describing the departure as immediate and for “personal reasons.” Other outlets linked the exit to months of internal friction with Mattia Binotto and, in some reports, Audi CEO Gernot Döllner. Reports varied on the length of his tenure — some put it at 24 races, others described it as roughly 12 months or “less than a year.” Several outlets tied Wheatley to Aston Martin; those claims remain unconfirmed and any appointment would be subject to gardening leave. A podcast suggested Audi might waive or shorten gardening leave to allow an earlier start, possibly by the Dutch Grand Prix in August, but none of these outcomes is confirmed.

Aston Martin’s possible interest comes amid technical turmoil. Reports described the AMR26 as “unreliable and dangerous,” and the team has publicly cited problems with its Honda power unit. As part of a wider shake-up, Aston Martin plans to reposition Adrian Newey back into a technical role; Newey had previously identified Wheatley as a primary target for the team-principal post, and owner Lawrence Stroll has reiterated Newey’s role as managing technical partner. Timing speculation about any Wheatley appointment ranges from a year-long gardening leave that could delay a start until 2027 to the podcast scenario of an earlier debut.

Audi moved quickly to stabilize operations by installing Mattia Binotto as team principal and describing the change as operational while a longer-term senior leadership structure is finalized. Binotto, already head of Audi’s F1 project, has assumed Wheatley’s responsibilities. Audi said driveability weaknesses in this season’s power unit cost Nico Hülkenberg positions at Turn 6. The team also pointed to mixed early-season results: Gabriel Bortoleto reached Q3 and finished ninth in Australia, while both cars recorded DNSs in Melbourne and China. Audi reiterated its goal to win a world championship by 2030 and continues to experience senior-management turnover; Allan McNish has been suggested as a possible internal candidate for a senior role.