Audi appointed Allan McNish as Racing Director to strengthen trackside leadership and operations, assigning him a broad set of race-weekend responsibilities previously handled by team principal Jonathan Wheatley. McNish will report directly to CEO and team principal Mattia Binotto, who will retain overall principal duties while remaining largely factory-based, and Audi said the move centralizes race-day decision-making to streamline the link between the factory and the pit wall.

The appointment takes effect immediately, with McNish scheduled to assume trackside duties from the Miami Grand Prix. He will provide hands-on, on-track leadership and take charge of sporting and performance duties, including trackside engineering, race strategy, driver management, engineering coordination, garage operations and circuit liaison.

McNish, 56, has been with Audi since 2000, ran the manufacturer’s Driver Development Program, led Audi’s Formula E team to the 2017-18 title and is a world endurance champion and three-time Le Mans winner. The change followed Jonathan Wheatley’s abrupt departure on March 20 after ten months in the role, and comes as Audi seeks stability after a difficult start to its rookie F1 season, sitting eighth in the constructors’ standings after three rounds with Gabriel Bortoleto’s ninth place in Australia providing the team’s only points. Audi described the move as part of a longer-term strategy to progress toward championship contention by 2030 while emphasizing continuity and technical leadership.