Audi’s Formula One debut has been jolted by the sudden departure of team principal Jonathan Wheatley, just two races into the season.
The 58-year-old Briton, who joined Sauber in 2025 before its takeover by Audi, leaves “with immediate effect” for personal reasons. Mattia Binotto, head of the Audi F1 Project, will assume team principal duties.
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Wheatley, a former Red Bull stalwart, is already linked with Aston Martin, though owner Lance Stroll dismissed speculation about him replacing Adrian Newey.
Audi’s early results include Gabriel Bortoleto’s ninth-place finish in Melbourne and Nico Hulkenberg’s 11th in China, giving the team a modest but promising start amid leadership upheaval.
