Audi finds 'successor' to ex-team boss Wheatley within its own ranks

The appointment of McNish does not come as a surprise. After Wheatley unexpectedly packed his bags a month ago, the Scot was quickly mentioned as an ideal candidate for a promotion within the new Formula 1 team.

McNish has only been in charge of the German outfit’s Driver Development Programme since this season. Although he has only held this position for a short time, he is a very well-known and respected figure within Audi. He also won the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the German brand, among other achievements. It is no coincidence that McNish previously served as an ambassador for the brand.

Mattia Binotto retains overall leadership of the Formula 1 project, but he is handing over several temporarily assumed tasks to McNish. For instance, the Scot will become the person who talks to the media, and as Racing Director he will also be responsible for the team during a Grand Prix weekend.

McNish will start in his new role as early as Miami. Leadership is nothing new for McNish, as he previously led Audi’s now-defunct Formula E project.

Since then, Audi has announced McNish as the team's new Racing Director. He said:"It is a privilege to take on the role of Racing Director for Audi Revolut F1 Team: this is a marque that means a lot to me and it is an honour to be able to represent Audi and our partners on the most prestigious stage in motorsports. This is an exciting challenge at a pivotal moment in the history of Audi and Formula One, and I am looking forward to contributing even more directly to our trackside performance.

Binotto, the team's COO and CTO said: "Allan brings an exceptional combination of racing experience, technical understanding and leadership to this role. He has been a central part of the motorsport structure of Audi for many years and, in his roles within Audi Revolut F1 Team since its start, has played a key role in shaping our preparation for Formula One, not least with his work around technical partnerships.