Aston Martin: Jonathan Wheatley isn’t joining “for the time being”

Aston ambassador Pedro de la Rosa has tentatively reflected on Jonathan Wheatley’s future

Aston Martin Formula 1 ambassador Pedro de la Rosa has stated Adrian Newey’s team principal job “will remain unchanged” and Jonathan Wheatley isn’t joining the squad “for the time being”.

Wheatley officially left his position at the rival Audi team last Friday ”due to personal reasons”, one day after Motorsport revealed he was set to replace Newey as Aston Martin’s team principal, with the latter focusing on his duties as managing technical partner.

Aston released a statement 15 minutes after Audi announced Wheatley’s exit, reaffirming Newey’s role within the team and insisting: “We are regularly approached by senior executives of other teams who wish to join Aston Martin Aramco, but in keeping with our policy, we do not comment on rumour and speculation.”

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One week later, on Friday at the Japanese Grand Prix, de la Rosa was speaking to Sky Sports F1 and was unsurprisingly asked about the hot topic.

“Is the key here to helping Adrian focus on what he's fantastic at – we all know he's the best in the business – and bringing in someone like Jonathan as a team principal?” presenter Natalie Pinkham inquired.

“Well, at the moment, we remain... Our structure is...” de la Rosa stammered. “We're happy with what we have, you know? And how we have organised the team. And Adrian being the team principal, but he's more than a team principal, he's actually a managing technical partner. So, that's going to remain the same.

Pedro de la Rosa, Aston Martin F1 Team

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

“I mean, Jonathan has left. I mean, we really shouldn't comment on things that are happening. We don't know why he has left. We don't know, you know, the situation, really. We all know. And the only thing we know, really, is that we have a team principal, and it's Adrian Newey, you know? And that will remain unchanged, you know?

“We have to believe in our structure and not change it anymore.” Aston has already have four different team principals in its five-year history under this name.