The British Jonathan WheatleyRed Bull’s sports director in Formula 1, will leave the ranks of the current world champion team when the 2024 season ends, the team announced on Thursday, to become the director of the future Audi team, which will arrive on the grid in 2026.
Working for Red Bull since 2006, Wheatley, 57, has participated in all of the Austrian firm’s biggest successes, including seven world drivers’ titles (four for Sebastian Vettelfrom 2010 to 2013, and three for Max Verstappen, from 2021 to 2023). six manufacturer crowns (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2022, 2023).
“His contribution, first as team director and then as sporting director, will forever mark the history of our team,” said the Red Bull boss. Christian Horner, in a press release.
Jonathan Wheatley “He will remain in his position until the end of the 2024 season,” indicated Red Bull, to “defend his world titles.”
The Briton must respect a period of sick leave in 2025, before joining Audi, “no later than July 2025”, according to his future team.
red bull He will also lose his car designer Adrian Newey considered one of the best engineers in F1 history, announced in May that he would leave the Austrian team at the end of the season.
“I am very proud to have been part of the Red Bull Racing adventure for the past 18 years, but the opportunity to play an active role in Audi’s entry into Formula 1 as a factory team principal is exciting,” said Wheatley in an Audi. press release.
This announcement came as the former boss of Ferrari F1, Italian Mattia Binottotook the reins of the Audi project and officially became the new technical and operations director of the Sauber Motorsport AG team on Thursday.
The two men “became the leaders of Sauber Motorsport AG’s management team,” the German brand said.
Earlier this year, the manufacturer of the four rings, which is part of the galaxy Volkswagenannounced that it had closed the acquisition of Sauber.
The Swiss team, currently last in the F1 constructors’ championship, will continue to compete in motorsport’s elite until the end of 2025 with its own Ferrari name and engine, before becoming Audi.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
