Audi leadership thrown into doubt after "shock" Jonathan Wheatley exit: "They're lacking"
Lawrence Barretto has described Jonathan Wheatley’s abrupt exit from Audi as a shock decision that leaves Mattia Binotto overseeing the team’s day-to-day running
Jonathan Wheatley, Audi F1 Team
Photo by: Christopher Otto
Jonathan Wheatley's exit from his role as Audi Formula 1 team principal has been branded a "shock decision" by F1 TV presenter Lawrence Barretto.
Audi confirmed last week that Wheatley was to leave the team with immediate effect due to personal reasons. The Briton had only joined the team in 2025 and was part of the transition from Sauber to Audi.
"As it continues its journey towards the front of the grid, Audi Revolut F1 Team will implement significant changes to its senior management structure," the team stated.
"Due to personal reasons, Jonathan Wheatley will depart the team with immediate effect. The team thanks Jonathan for his contribution to the project and wishes him the best for his future endeavours."
While Wheatley has been linked to the team principal role at Aston Martin, that move has not been confirmed.
"It was a shock decision really," Barretto said during the F1 TV Weekend Warm-Up show.
"Jonathan came into the team just under a year ago. Came in as team principal, the day-to-day running was under his guise, and then we had Mattia Binotto, head of the F1 project, and they had this dual partnership, this dual management system.
Mattia Binotto, Audi F1 Team
Photo by: Jakub Porzycki / NurPhoto via Getty Images
"They had offices on either side of an open door. They discussed everything from day to day and then it's now moved to a point where Mattia Binotto takes on those duties because Jonathan's had to step aside for personal reasons.
"And it just means in the interim he'll have to look after the day-to-day running of the team while they work out the wider plan for that structure going forward, because at the moment there's a loss, they're lacking there. They need that day-to-day running of the team."
Audi currently sits eighth in the constructors' standings with two points, earned by Gabriel Bortoleto with a ninth-place finish at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
Photos from Japanese GP - Thursday
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Japanese GP - Thursday, in photos
Share Or Save This Story
Max Verstappen reveals laid-back approach to 100-driver Silverstone challenge
George Russell shares childhood Silverstone connection and why he rejected bigger grandstand
David Coulthard says Kimi Antonelli proved he is an F1 "phenomenon" at Monza
Martin Brundle identifies Aston Martin problem while backing Jonathan Wheatley move
Jonathan Wheatley backed for Aston Martin F1 team principal role: "He's a fighter"
Jonathan Wheatley's Audi exit sparks strong reaction from Formula 1 fans
Audi to go through with appeal against Yuki Tsunoda's Italian GP result
Audi lodges intention to appeal against Yuki Tsunoda's Italian GP verdict
Where you can find the best battles of F1 2026
WRC Chile: Oliver Solberg urges “clever” approach as tyre fears grow for Saturday
Max Verstappen reveals laid-back approach to 100-driver Silverstone challenge
George Russell shares childhood Silverstone connection and why he rejected bigger grandstand
WRC Chile: Oliver Solberg extends rally lead as Evans pays road-order price
What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 F1 Spanish GP
What F1's risky Madrid bet needs to get right in order to pay off
The deeper meaning of Vettel’s emotional Schumacher demo run at Monza
Why new Madrid F1 circuit will be a "challenging" test of cars and engines
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments