Jonathan Wheatley
Jonathan Wheatley to replace Adrian Newey as Aston Martin F1 team principal amid 2026 Honda engine crisis
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Adrian Newey is set to step down from his role as Aston Martin Formula 1 team principal after a brief tenure to focus on technical matters. He will be replaced by Jonathan Wheatley, Audi's team principal of just one year, as the team grapples with its new Honda power unit's failures under 2026 regulations. This marks the fifth leadership change since Aston Martin entered F1 in 2021.
Aston Martin Formula 1 ambassador Pedro de la Rosa stated that Adrian Newey's role as team principal will remain unchanged and that Jonathan Wheatley is not joining the team for now. Wheatley left Audi last Friday citing personal reasons, shortly after reports emerged of a potential move to Aston Martin. De la Rosa emphasized the team's commitment to its current structure amid ongoing performance challenges.
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One week after Jonathan Wheatley’s shock departure as Audi F1 team principal for personal reasons, drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto gave mixed reactions ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix. F1 TV’s Lawrence Barretto called it a 'shock decision' amid the team’s leadership vacuum, with Audi now eighth in constructors’ standings.