Red Bull sporting director Wheatley in...

Red Bull sporting director Wheatley in…

Red Bull’s sporting director, Jonathan Wheatley, will leave the team at the end of the current season and join Audi as team principal when Sauber becomes their factory squad in 2026.

Wheatley’s departure is significant for Red Bull, where he played a crucial role under Christian Horner.

Wheatley, who joined Red Bull in 2006 from Renault, has been instrumental in the team’s successes, particularly in optimizing pit stop performances.

After his exit, he will serve a gardening leave to prevent transferring sensitive information to Audi.

Horner praised Wheatley’s contributions to the team’s championships over the years. Wheatley’s move follows another high-profile exit at Red Bull, with chief technical officer Adrian Newey also leaving.

Audi, undergoing significant changes, recently appointed Mattia Binotto as chief operating and technical officer, meaning Wheatley will report to him.

Audi has not yet issued a formal statement on Wheatley’s hiring.