Ecclestone questions Wheatley's move as Aston seeks a shift.
"Currently, we have no official update regarding the issue."
Bernie Ecclestone has expressed skepticism about claims that Aston Martin plans to appoint Jonathan Wheatley as team principal amidst its ongoing challenges during the Honda era. "That’s practically impossible," the former F1 chief told Blick regarding the rumored change. "It would only make sense if he wasn’t enjoying it in Switzerland and wanted to move back to England."
Several credible reports indicate that Aston Martin is indeed considering a leadership change that would entail Adrian Newey stepping back from the team principal position to concentrate on technical responsibilities, with the new Audi team leader Wheatley being considered as the preferred candidate for the role. This would bring Wheatley back together with Newey, merging Newey's technical expertise with a more conventional management figure—an area where the 67-year-old Briton has less experience.
However, the situation is complicated by the fact that Wheatley has only just joined Audi and reportedly has a strong long-term contract, with discussions now focused on potential exit terms and a likely lengthy period of gardening leave. Audi is reportedly dissatisfied with the current developments, though it has refrained from openly denying the speculations. "We have taken note of the recent media reports," a spokesperson commented. "At this time, we have no official update on the matter. We do not comment on speculation."
On the other hand, Aston Martin has responded cautiously, publicly supporting Newey while choosing not to engage with the rumors. "We are aware of the media speculation. There are no official updates from us at this time, and we do not comment on rumors," the team stated. "We fully support Adrian Newey as Managing Technical Partner and Team Principal." Aston Martin also emphasized that Newey "continues to lead the team, balancing his responsibilities" in both roles.
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Ecclestone questions Wheatley's move as Aston seeks a shift.
Formula 1 | Bernie Ecclestone has questioned reports suggesting that Aston Martin plans to appoint Jonathan Wheatley as team principal during its current Honda era.