Jonathan Wheatley debuted as the head of Audi’s factory Formula 1 team at the Japanese Grand Prix of the previous year. Having served as Red Bull’s sporting director for twenty years, he displayed every sign of immense excitement regarding his achieved goal and expressed happiness about relocating to Switzerland.
Under a year later, Mattia Binotto, designated as the ‘head of F1 project’ and who has practically taken over Wheatley’s duties, provided a possibly unintentionally direct response when asked about a successor for Wheatley, a highly esteemed figure within the F1 community.
He stated, “Moving forward, I believe we are not actively seeking a new team principal.”
“I intend to retain this position, however, I will require assistance during race weekends since I won’t consistently be present at every event. My primary focus must be at the factory, where the most significant changes, not just development but a complete transformation, are needed.
“Therefore, support for race weekends is undoubtedly essential.”
Since the announcement of Wheatley’s exit “due to personal reasons” the week prior to the Japanese Grand Prix, various prominent individuals have been suggested for the team principal position. Among them is Allan McNish, a Le Mans victor and ex-Toyota F1 driver, who previously managed Audi’s Formula E operations.
Wheatley’s departure caught numerous team members off guard, particularly Nico Hulkenberg, who learned of it only after his mother shared a news article. Although some, like Gabriel Bortoleto, have suggested they anticipated it, no external indications were given.
Wheatley gave no outward signals that he was looking to depart
Photo by: Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
However, Binotto’s assertion that he can essentially manage the role himself, with a subordinate stepping in during race weekends he opts to miss, strongly suggests a potential reason for Wheatley’s search for new opportunities – Autosport gathered he is headed to Aston Martin after a period of mandatory absence.
Binotto is quite accustomed to taking on multiple responsibilities. Even after his advancement from technical director to team principal at Ferrari, he maintained significant authority over the engineering division.
Wheatley, on the other hand, evidently viewed his transition to Audi as an advancement from his previous position as sporting director. Although the nature of the team principal role has evolved over time – with most now being employees rather than primary owners – Wheatley’s two decades at Red Bull were spent under Christian Horner, who demanded oversight of every facet of the team’s operations.
This perspective on the team principal’s responsibilities distinctly differs from what is currently practiced at Audi. Instead of commanding overall authority, Wheatley’s primary function was to serve as Binotto’s delegate at the circuit.
It would not be astonishing if an individual as renowned for his competitive nature as Wheatley – the figure who influenced race director Michael Masi during the notorious final laps of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – became frustrated upon discovering this new position did not represent the advancement he had anticipated.
In that scenario, he could be additionally vexed by his former superior minimizing his contributions over the preceding months.
Recent events mean Binotto has extended his influence over team operations
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Binotto remarked following the Japanese GP, “I must state that the squad maintained significant focus and concentration throughout this weekend. Furthermore, from an operational standpoint, the team executed its tasks exceptionally well this weekend.”
“We can be satisfied, demonstrating that ultimately, success is not dependent on a single person. It revolves around the collective team effort. The paramount factor is the team.
“Therefore, I would not feel apprehensive about the future due to any particular individuals.”
