Jonathan Wheatley, the British pit-stop specialist who spent three decades at Red Bull, has taken the reins of Audi's Formula One project. The 58-year-old, known for orchestrating record-breaking pit stops, became team principal in mid-2024 as Audi completed its takeover of the Sauber team. He describes the past year as 'relentless', balancing 24 races with trips to Germany and life in Switzerland.
Audi, formerly Sauber, struggled in 2024, scoring just four points and finishing at the back of the grid. Wheatley acknowledges the challenge, noting the team's headcount of around 350 staff compared to Red Bull's 900. 'We don't have the strength in depth that larger teams have,' he says, citing the lack of a backup wheel-gun operator as an example of operating on a 'knife-edge'.
Despite the struggles, Sauber showed promise in 2025, with Nico Hulkenberg's podium at Silverstone—the team's first in 13 years—sparking emotional celebrations. Wheatley, who had overseen similar successes at Red Bull, admits he initially underestimated the significance. 'I turned around and the whole team had exploded behind me. I thought: oh right, yes, it's a really big deal!'
Wheatley's F1 career began as a mechanic at Benetton/Renault under Flavio Briatore, working with Michael Schumacher. Now, he brings a more measured approach to Audi, focusing on long-term growth rather than quick fixes. With major regulation changes on the horizon for 2026, he insists: '2030 is tomorrow.'
