Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said Jonathan Wheatley’s departure “provides an opportunity to help others”, with a control position now available.
Wheatley will leave Red Bull at the end of the season after 18 years there, and the veteran sporting director will be the new Audi team principal from mid-2025, where he will form a two-way partnership with team manufacturer Ferrari. Matía Binotto.
Reports about Wheatley’s long-term outlook emerged in early May, with Horner refusing to talk about whether or not he would leave the team after the Miami Grand Prix 8 rounds ago.
However, it was announced on Thursday that he would finish the season with Red Bull before taking a gardening leave era and starting his new role at Audi, with the German team later confirming that it would start no later than July 2025.
As for Red Bull’s next steps, Horner showed that the team is in a position to take a look at how it can restructure and potentially promote its own talent.
“It has been a long and fruitful relationship with Jonathan, more than 18 years,” Horner said in announcing Wheatley’s departure.
“His contribution to six constructors’ world titles and seven drivers’ world championships, first as team principal and most recently as sporting director, will remain a milestone in our team’s history.
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“Everyone at Oracle Red Bull Racing and Red Bull Technology wishes him all the best in his new role and would like to thank Jonathan.
“Red Bull Racing has ordinary strength and depth, which provides the opportunity to push others within the team.
“We will announce a new design in the coming weeks. “
As for Wheatley himself, it will be his first replacement at the team in almost two decades, and the first time he has taken on the role of team manager in his more than 30-year career in the Formula 1 paddock, since with Benetton in the 1990s.
“I am incredibly proud to have been involved in the Red Bull Racing adventure for over 18 years and will take away many great memories,” Wheatley said.
“However, the opportunity to play an active role in Audi’s entry into Formula 1 as a factory team boss is an exciting prospect and I look forward to the challenge.
“In addition, I am happy to work with Mattia, whom I have known for many years and who is the best user to collaborate on this exciting project. “
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