Jonathan Wheatley’s Departure Highlights New Problem for Red Bull
The imminent departure of Jonathan Wheatley, Red Bull’s current sporting director, represents a significant new challenge for the team that has dominated Formula 1 in recent years. Wheatley, who will leave Red Bull at the end of the season to assume the role of team principal at Audi, is widely recognized for his deep knowledge of F1 regulations and his ability to maximize the team’s performance during race weekends.
Wheatley’s exit, which will see him join Audi in July 2025 after a period of gardening leave, raises crucial questions about how Red Bull will fill this void. The team has announced that it intends to look internally for a replacement, but the challenge will be considerable given the impact and experience Wheatley has brought to the team’s operations.
Ted Kravitz, a Sky F1 commentator, highlighted Wheatley’s importance to Red Bull and the potential difficulties the team will face in replacing him. “Who they will get to replace him is the big question. He is an extremely valuable guy in terms of knowing the rules and keeping the race team sharp. How will they divide these responsibilities?” pondered Kravitz.
Some speculate that Gianpiero Lambiase, Max Verstappen’s race engineer, could be promoted to the role of sporting director. However, Lambiase, who is deeply involved in race dynamics, may not want to step away from the direct action and crucial decisions that occur during races. “I don’t know if GP wants to leave the fun of weekly racing,” Kravitz added, suggesting that Red Bull may opt to split the responsibilities among more than one person.
Wheatley, who started as a chief mechanic at Benetton before rising through the ranks at Red Bull, played a crucial role in building the team’s success. His departure marks the end of an era, but it also forces Red Bull to rethink its organizational structure. The possibility of promoting two internal members—one to lead the pit stop team and another to handle the complexities of F1 regulations—is being considered, but the team has yet to confirm its plans.
Moreover, Wheatley will not only be a sporting director at Audi; he will assume the role of team principal, a position that will bring new responsibilities and challenges. Working alongside Mattia Binotto, Wheatley will have to quickly adapt to Audi’s environment, learn the language, and understand the team’s culture to implement effective changes.
Although Wheatley’s departure is a loss for Red Bull, it also offers an opportunity for the team to redefine its internal operations and identify new leaders. Red Bull has a tradition of promoting internal talent, but replacing such an influential figure as Wheatley will not be an easy task. How the team handles this transition could determine whether they continue to dominate F1 in the coming years.
