BREAKING: Early Red Bull F1 chief RELEASE 'confirmed...

Early Red Bull F1 chief RELEASE ‘confirmed

Wheatley, Red Bull’s longtime sporting director, will be leaving the team earlier than expected to take up his new role at Sauber, it has been confirmed. Wheatley, who joined Red Bull in 2006, has played a crucial role in the team’s rise to dominance in Formula 1, overseeing their sporting operations since 2018. His leadership and expertise have been instrumental in Red Bull’s multiple championship successes in recent years.

Wheatley had already announced in 2024 that he would be leaving Red Bull to take on the position of team principal at Sauber, the Swiss-based team that will be taken over by Audi starting in 2026. This early departure from Red Bull comes ahead of his planned move to Sauber, and it marks the end of a significant era in the team’s management. The 57-year-old has been a key figure in Red Bull’s success, and his exit follows a period of uncertainty within the team, which included speculation about the futures of Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and legendary designer Adrian Newey.

With Wheatley’s exit confirmed, he now faces the daunting task of rebuilding Sauber, which currently sits at the bottom of the Constructors’ Championship standings. His move to Sauber will be a significant challenge, as the team looks to improve its performance and climb higher up the grid in 2025. The Swiss outfit has struggled in recent seasons, and Wheatley’s leadership will be critical to their aspirations of becoming more competitive as they prepare for Audi’s full takeover in a couple of years.

In the meantime, Sauber will be without a team principal, with team representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi also set to leave. The responsibility of managing the team in the interim is expected to fall to Mattia Binotto, the former Ferrari team principal, who is anticipated to oversee the team’s operations until Wheatley’s arrival. Binotto’s temporary appointment is aimed at maintaining stability as Sauber navigates the transition ahead.

Wheatley’s departure from Red Bull marks a significant reshuffle within the team, but the 57-year-old’s experience and track record make him a key figure for Sauber as they look to turn things around and position themselves for a strong future under Audi’s ownership. The coming months will be critical for Sauber, as they aim to take full advantage of the expertise Wheatley brings to the team and work toward climbing out of the lower rungs of the Constructors’ Championship.