Red Bull will feel Wheatley loss more than Newey’s departure

Jonathan Wheatley will leave Red Bull after 18 years to take the role as team principal of Audi and is another key loss to the reigning world champion squad.

A simple 175-word statement posted on Red Bull WhatsApp group to journalists delivered the news that one of its most senior staff was leaving. It confirmed that Wheatley, the team’s sporting director, was joining Audi to become its new team principal. It is undoubtedly a major coup for Audi, which joins F1 in 2026, as Wheatley would have been top of my wish-list for a team boss.

It marks a swift development for Audi, which was growing concerned by a lack of progress. Andreas Seidl left as Audi F1 team CEO along with chairman of the Sauber board Oliver Hoffmann. They have been replaced by former Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto, who will oversee the whole of Audi’s F1 operation, and now Wheatley is installed as its team principal.

While this undoubtedly strengthens Audi’s team, despite having missed out on signing Carlos Sainz who has joined Williams from next season, the focus switched to what it means for Red Bull.

Ahead of the Miami Grand Prix when Red Bull confirmed Adrian Newey would be leaving, the narrative from the team was clear – Newey was seeking a new challenge but there was significant strength in depth to navigate his departure.

Newey has worked at Red Bull since 2006 and drawn the plaudits for the team’s success as it took 13 world titles, and rightly so. But in recent years, his involvement in the day-to-day design department had reduced, with Red Bull’s technical director Pierre Wache stepping into that role.

Within the team there was a sense that Newey’s departure was at a natural end to his tenure and it professed to have a replacement in Wache. However, in Wheatley’s case there is no obvious ready-made alternative and unlike the design department, finding a replacement will prove tricky.

PLUS: Why soon-to-depart Newey isn’t Red Bull’s only senior figure to miss

Wheatley’s role as sporting director – sometimes referred to as team manager – has long-been overlooked. He is a vital part of maintaining the operational and sporting aspects of a team. He runs the trackside operation, he’s responsible for travel plans, car build, personnel and logistics. He’s also responsible for the pitstops, where Red Bull is consistently quick, and crucially, he is the link between…