Red Bull Racing today announced the departure of sporting director Jonathan Whitley from the team, who will become the new head of the Audi factory team after a mandatory leave of absence.
Apparently, the announcement of Red Bull Racing came as a complete surprise to Audi, as the press service of the German group needed a few hours to publish a statement about the start of the collaboration with Whitley. From the Audi publication it follows that Jonathan will start in his position in July 2025.
Gernot DollnerCEO of AUDI AG: “With the appointment of Jonatha Whitley and Mattia Binotto, we have taken a decisive step forward towards our debut in Formula 1. I am convinced that these two specialists will bring an extremely high level of competence to Audi. Their experience and skills will help us quickly gain a foothold in the highly competitive world of Formula 1.”
Mattia BinottoChief Operating Officer and Technical Director of Sauber Motorsport AG: “I have known Jonathan for many years and value him enormously as an experienced and dedicated professional. The 2026 season is just around the corner and I look forward to working with Jonathan to build the new Audi racing team and lead it to success.”
Jonathan Wheatley: “I am very proud to have been part of Red Bull Racing for the past 18 years and to leave the team with many fond memories. However, the opportunity to become head of the Audi team at the time of its debut in Formula 1 is unique, and I am ready for this challenge.
In addition, I enjoy working with Mattia, whom I have known for many years. He is the right person to take on this exciting project.”
Source: F1 News
I am Christopher Clyde, an experienced journalist and content writer with a passion for sports. I have been writing about Formula 1 news for the past five years and am currently employed as an author at athletistic.com, one of the top sports websites in the US.
