Ecclestone questions Wheatley's potential move as Aston considers a shift.
"Currently, we do not have an official update regarding the situation."
Bernie Ecclestone has expressed skepticism about claims that Aston Martin plans to appoint Jonathan Wheatley as team principal amid its ongoing difficulties during the Honda era. "That’s nearly impossible," the former F1 chief remarked to Blick concerning the reported transition. "It would only make sense if he was unhappy in Switzerland and wished to return to England."
Multiple credible sources indicate that Aston Martin is indeed considering a leadership change, which could see Adrian Newey stepping back from the team principal position to concentrate on technical responsibilities, with new Audi team boss Wheatley being seen as the favored successor. This change would reunite Wheatley with Newey, merging Newey’s technical expertise with a more conventional management style—an area where the 67-year-old Briton has less experience.
However, the situation is complicated by the fact that Wheatley just recently joined Audi and is believed to have a strong long-term contract. Reports suggest that discussions are now focused on potential exit clauses and a likely extended period of gardening leave. Audi is reportedly displeased with the situation but stopped short of denying it. "We have acknowledged the recent media reports," a representative stated. "At this time, we have no official update on the situation. We do not comment on speculation."
Aston Martin has also released a measured response, publicly supporting Newey while refraining from addressing the reports. "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 emphasized that Newey "continues to lead the team, merging his responsibilities" in both roles.
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Formula 1 | Bernie Ecclestone has expressed skepticism regarding reports that Aston Martin is poised to appoint Jonathan Wheatley as team principal during its current Honda-era.