Hulk taken aback by Wheatley's departure, teammate suggests possible reasons.

      "That’s part of the business."

      Nico Hulkenberg expressed that he was completely caught off guard by the sudden exit of former team boss Jonathan Wheatley, learning about it from an unexpected source. "I was in the simulator that day," the German driver mentioned at Suzuka. "Between two runs, I checked my phone, and my mother had sent me a news article. I thought, ‘Oh sh*t!’" Hulkenberg indicated that he found out about this surprising turn in Audi’s brief F1 experience "at the same time as the rest of the world," labeling the departure after just two races as unforeseen. Nonetheless, he downplayed its effect on the team, asserting that the structure remains solid under the leadership of Mattia Binotto. "A Formula 1 team is made up of many individuals," he noted. "We require strong people, and with Mattia, we have a robust leader. It’s not that we lack a leadership team, structure, or a plan. Even though this was unexpected, everything else is proceeding as scheduled." Hulkenberg remarked that such transitions are part of the sport. "That’s part of the business," he said. "If you look around the paddock, you can see phases like this in many teams. If there’s an issue with certain individuals, action must be taken. There was clearly a problem here." In contrast, teammate Gabriel Bortoleto suggested that the situation might not have been as surprising internally. "I wouldn’t say it’s a surprise," the Brazilian stated. "I think he couldn’t fully commit to the project due to personal matters he made public. When you have personal issues to address, those take precedence." Bortoleto added that events "unfolded rapidly," but insisted that the team will continue to progress, with Binotto now entirely in charge on the track. Wheatley, who joined from Red Bull less than a year ago, is anticipated to enter a period of gardening leave, amid speculation about a potential future role as team principal in Adrian Newey’s team at Aston Martin. However, Lance Stroll downplayed those rumors at Suzuka, affirming, "I know who Adrian's team principal is right now."