Overview
- Jonathan Wheatley stepped down as Audi team principal two races into 2026 for personal reasons, and Mattia Binotto has taken the role on a temporary basis.
- Binotto said the stopgap move will be brief and that Audi plans to appoint a dedicated trackside boss soon so he can focus on the car and new power unit at the factory.
- Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto said Wheatley could not fully commit and called putting personal matters first the right decision.
- Wheatley continues to be linked by multiple outlets with Aston Martin, which has publicly denied any change to Adrian Newey’s leadership setup.
- Industry norms such as gardening leave can delay moves between F1 teams, and Audi still targets a long-term principal to steer its 2030 title push.