Overview
- Audi announced Jonathan Wheatley has left the team with immediate effect and said Mattia Binotto will take on the operational team‑chief responsibilities.
- Multiple outlets report Wheatley is poised to join Aston Martin, but the move has not been confirmed by Aston Martin and could be subject to gardening‑leave constraints.
- Italian media report Adrian Newey plans to step back from the team‑principal role to focus on technical work, while Aston Martin maintains he remains team boss and calls the reports rumor.
- Aston Martin’s season has begun with two double retirements, with severe vibrations linked to the new Honda power unit raising reliability and driver‑safety concerns.
- Wheatley and Newey worked together for years at Red Bull, and Wheatley’s sudden Audi exit has prompted an immediate reshuffle at Audi after a points‑scoring debut, adding uncertainty over the timing of any next steps.