Mattia Binotto has outlined why Audi selected Jonathan Wheatley as team principal for its Formula 1 entry, emphasizing his championship-winning background from Red Bull. The appointment, effective from April, supports Audi's takeover of the Sauber team ahead of its 2026 debut as a works outfit. Binotto likens the challenge to entering the Champions League, stressing the need for a winning mentality.
Audi's Formula 1 project, led by Mattia Binotto, is building momentum with the integration of key personnel from established teams. Binotto, who previously served as Ferrari's team principal from 2019 to 2022, spoke in an exclusive interview with RacingNews365 about the strategic hire of Jonathan Wheatley.
Wheatley, a British motorsport veteran with nearly two decades at Red Bull, joined Audi in April following a period of gardening leave. He began his career as a mechanic and rose to team manager before becoming sporting director in 2018. In that role, he contributed to Red Bull's two most recent constructors' championships.
The German car manufacturer acquired the Hinwil-based Sauber team years ago, navigating an interim phase under the Stake branding. Initial leadership included Andreas Seidl and Alessandro Alunni Bravi, but Seidl was fired and replaced by Binotto, while Bravi departed in early 2024, paving the way for Wheatley.
Audi plans to enter the grid in 2026 not only as a chassis team but also as a power unit supplier for the first time. Binotto compared this ambitious transition to a club joining European football's elite Champions League competition. "Audi was looking for the best they could," he said. "And I think, with Jonathan, they found what could have been the best. So I think yes, the broader your experience, the better it will be for a team, certainly for our team, that needs to develop and to win the Champions League. So you need, first, a winning mentality. You need to know what winning the Champions League is about. And if you look at how many titles Jonathan has participated in, he certainly knows what it's about."
Binotto referenced Red Bull's own path: after purchasing the Jaguar team in 2005, it secured its first constructors' title in 2010. Audi targets similar success, aiming to compete for championships by 2030. While Binotto and Wheatley divide responsibilities, they collaborate closely to blend their experiences and cultures. "I'm pleased because, in the end, I can bring my own experience," Binotto added. "There is a different culture. Jonathan has got his own one as well. I think it's the mix of everything that makes it — somehow, I hope so — positive for the future."
