Wheatley leaves Audi: This appears to be a key reason behind stepping down.
The relationship between team boss Jonathan Wheatley and Mattia Binotto (COO and CTO of the Audi F1 project) was strained, GPblog understands. That seems to be a key reason for the former to quit a seemingly attractive job at Audi and ultimately choose Aston Martin.
20 Mar 2026
Kada Sárközi
Ludo van Denderen
GPblog.com

GPblog understands that the relationship between Binotto and Wheatley was difficult. Although Binotto, as COO and CTO, was the most important figure within the organization, he had no influence over Wheatley’s appointment. Both appointments were made by Audi’s top management; the Italian had no say in that. But apparently, Wheatley was not the team boss Binotto would have preferred.

By leaving Audi, Wheatley can also leave Switzerland, where he lived there for only a year. He can return to his family and friends in the United Kingdom, especially if he indeed goes to work for Aston Martin. That team’s factory is in Silverstone, not far from Milton Keynes where Wheatley previously worked with Red Bull.

He may also be in line for a pay raise, as co-owner Lawrence Stroll is determined to bring the best people to Aston Martin. It’s no coincidence that several key figures from other teams have succumbed to the British outfit in recent years.

‘Strained relationship’;

https://www.gpblog.com/en/features/w...n-to-step-down


‘With immediate effect’, Wheatley’s Audi departure confirmed
21 Mar 2026
Jawad Yaqub
F1 Chronicle

Audi have announced that its Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley has left the team “with immediate effect”, amid speculation surrounding his ex-Red Bull colleague Adrian Newey’s position at Aston Martin. The Hinwil based outfit confirmed Wheatley’s departure in a press release, citing “personal reasons” for the 58-year old leaving the team which he joined only twelve months ago. Being a desire to return home to the UK.

“We are grateful to Jonathan Wheatley for his contribution to the project during the crucial entry phase and wish him all the best for the future,” said Audi AG’s CEO and chairman of the board of management of Audi Motorsport AG, Gernot Döllner. “Mattia Binotto and the team will continue to pursue the path we have chosen with determination.”

“Our focus remains unchanged: we are concentrating all our efforts on building a team competing at the highest level that will challenge for world championships in Formula 1 by 2030. We will continuously develop our organisational structures to achieve our shared goal in a sustainable manner.”

‘With immediate effect’;

https://f1chronicle.com/with-immedia.../?nowprocket=1


Ex-F1 boss dismisses Audi’s explanation for shock Jonathan Wheatley departure
22 Mar 2026
Anirban Aly Mandal
Motorsport Week

Bernie Ecclestone has given his two cents on Jonathan Wheatley’s shock Formula 1 departure from Audi as rumors of Aston Martin appointment intensify. Ecclestone calls reason for Jonathan Wheatley Audi departure “impossible”. Former F1 boss Ecclestone may have some light to shed on these personal reasons, dismissing Audi’s explanation for Wheatley’s sudden departure.

“That’s actually impossible,” he told Blick. “It would only make sense if he doesn’t like it in Switzerland and wants to go back to England.” Stroll’s comments might turn out to be a window to the future, with the British marque employing Wheatley’s services whilst allowing Newey to re-focus his expertise into the technical aspects of Aston Martin’s F1 project.

“That’s actually impossible”;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2026/...ley-departure/


Aston Martin statement reinforces Adrian Newey role amid Jonathan Wheatley speculation
20 Mar 2026
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com

Aston Martin has issued a statement, shortly after Jonathan Wheatley’s confirmed departure from the Audi F1 team. “With the current speculation surrounding Adrian Newey’s role in our team, I want to take this opportunity to set the record straight,” Stroll said, with his team having been embroiled in rumours for days.

“As Executive Chairman and Controlling Shareholder, I would like to reaffirm that Adrian Newey is my partner and an important shareholder. He is AMR’s Managing Technical Partner, and he and I have a true partnership built on a shared vision of success for the company. We do things differently here, and while we don’t currently adopt the traditional Team Principal role that you see elsewhere – it is by design.”


“As the most successful engineer in the history of the sport, Adrian’s primary focus is on the strategic and technical leadership, where he excels. He is supported by a highly skilled Senior Leadership Team to deliver on all aspects of the business, both at the Campus and trackside. We are regularly approached by senior executives of other teams who wish to join Aston Martin Aramco, but in keeping with our policy, we do not comment on rumour and speculation.”

‘Aston Martin statement’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/jonath...ian-newey-role


Jonathan Wheatley exits Audi and sparks Aston Martin shake-up as Newey steps back
Aston Martin moves quickly after a troubled start to 2026, with Jonathan Wheatley set to replace Adrian Newey in a major leadership reset
20 Mar 2026
John Smith
Total Motorsport

Aston Martin turns to experience amid early crisis. For Aston Martin, the arrival of Wheatley represents a shift in approach at a critical moment. A veteran of Benetton, Renault and Red Bull, where he played a central role in the team’s operational success, Wheatley brings a reputation for structure, discipline and race-day execution.

Those qualities are now urgently needed as the team looks to steady itself. While Newey’s technical expertise remains invaluable, the decision to remove him from the day-to-day pressures of team management suggests a recognition that the current structure was not working. The challenge ahead remains significant.

Beyond leadership adjustments, Aston Martin must urgently resolve its power unit issues and extract performance from a package that has yet to deliver on its promise. But with Wheatley expected to take control of the team’s overall direction and Newey focusing on development, there is at least a clearer structure emerging. Whether that will be enough to turn around their 2026 campaign remains uncertain but one thing is clear: the pressure on Aston Martin has never been greater.

‘Major leadership reset’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/jon...in-newey-exit/


Juan Pablo Montoya raises ‘political’ concern for why Jonathan Wheatley has left Audi
21 Mar 2026
Kyle Archer
F1 Oversteer

Juan Pablo Montoya thinks living in Switzerland might not have been the only reason why Jonathan Wheatley has left Audi, as team politics could also have been an issue. Montoya thinks Wheatley’s resignation shows Audi are now facing the same challenges that Sauber encountered with trying to get Formula 1 personnel to move from mainly England to Switzerland. But it also suggests Wheatley did not like how political the team is under Audi.

There have been rumours of rifts in Wheatley’s relationship with Mattia Binotto, the overall project leader of Audi’s F1 team. Blick reports that Binotto and Wheatley had been clashing over the boundaries of their responsibilities, but Audi have downplayed any power struggle. “It would have to be, first of all, a chance to go back and live in the UK,” Montoya told RacingNews365.

“I think that has always been one of the harder things when they were Sauber, getting the right people to work there. Yes, Switzerland is amazing and everything, but when you’ve been in racing and you’ve always been involved in the UK, going to live in a different place is a bit of a shock. And I think the way Audi and Sauber worked together, now everything is Audi, maybe it’s too political. If he gets the opportunity to go and do something else, it’s fine.”

‘Team politics could also have been an issue’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/jua...has-left-audi/