Jonathan Wheatley to depart Red Bull at the end of F1 season to take on role of Audi team principal

Jonathan Wheatley will be stepping down from his position as sporting director of Red Bull to take on the role of team principal for the Audi Formula 1 team, as announced by Red Bull. Wheatley, 57 years old, has had an 18-year tenure with Red Bull and will complete the current season before taking a break in 2025. He is slated to lead Audi as they enter Formula 1 in 2026.
Christian Horner, Red Bull’s Team Principal and CEO, praised Wheatley’s long and successful history with the team, highlighting his significant contributions to the team’s achievements, including six world constructors’ titles and seven world drivers’ championships.
Audi has not provided any comments regarding Red Bull’s announcement. In March, the German automaker Audi finalized a deal to fully acquire the Sauber team, setting the stage for their debut as a Formula 1 constructor in 2026. Nico Hülkenberg is set to join Sauber from Haas, adding a German presence to the team when they transition to the Audi brand.
Currently, Red Bull is leading the constructor standings this season with 408 points, while Sauber is at the bottom without any points. Red Bull’s driver, Max Verstappen, is leading the driver’s standings as he pursues his fourth consecutive world title.