Audi F1 Chief Jonathan Wheatley Speculated to Succeed Adrian Newey at Aston
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A report from Motorsport.com indicates that Jonathan Wheatley, the current F1 team principal at Audi, is set to take over Adrian Newey's position at Aston Martin, as the renowned Formula 1 designer is expected to step down shortly.
It is important to mention that neither team has confirmed these changes, and they remain speculative. The potential transfer is said to be linked to the Silverstone-based team's lack of success in the first two races of the season, with the reorganization allowing Newey to concentrate solely on the vehicle's technical aspects and its integration with Honda's power unit, while Wheatley would manage team operations.
An Audi F1 spokesperson acknowledged to The Drive that they are aware of the media speculation regarding Wheatley’s potential move but didn’t provide any confirmation.
“We are aware of the recent media reports,” the spokesperson stated to The Drive. “There is no official update from us at this time, and we do not comment on speculation.”
However, the initial report seems to contradict itself regarding Wheatley’s transfer to Aston, initially claiming it is imminent but then mentioning that the “timing of the move [will] depend on his Audi contract.”
While I personally find this scenario unlikely—considering Wheatley's transition from Red Bull Racing to a brief period at Sauber and then the lengthy journey of launching Audi F1—Formula 1 is a sport filled with unexpected developments. There is some validity to the rumor, given the longstanding successful collaboration between Wheatley and Newey at Red Bull, where Wheatley served as sporting director and greatly contributed to the team's achievements.
With the Japanese Grand Prix approaching next weekend, any changes at Aston Martin and potentially Audi will need to be announced in the coming days.
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Audi F1 Chief Jonathan Wheatley Speculated to Succeed Adrian Newey at Aston
The unverified report suggests that following only two races as the Audi F1 team principal, Wheatley will switch to Aston, allowing Newey to concentrate on technical issues.