Jonathan Wheatley has officially parted ways with the Audi Formula 1 team as he prepares to join Aston Martin. Motorsport magazine recently announced that Adrian Newey will be stepping down from his position as team principal, only three months after taking on the role, to focus on technical aspects. Wheatley, who is currently the team boss at Audi, will be stepping in to replace him. This decision comes in light of Aston Martin’s struggles at the start of the 2026 F1 season, with issues such as power unit vibrations and battery reliability problems hampering their performance on the track. The team, backed by billionaire owner Lawrence Stroll, has invested heavily in becoming a title contender, assembling a team of top F1 engineers including Newey and former Mercedes expert Andy Cowell. Wheatley, who has a background working with teams like Benetton, Renault, and Red Bull, previously served as the team principal for Sauber/Audi. His primary objective at Aston Martin will be to address the team’s challenges and help them get back on the right track, starting with securing a powerful and reliable engine package. More updates on this developing story will be shared soon.
Jonathan Wheatley Leaves Audi, to Join Aston Martin
