Red Bull hijacks Audi announcement about Wheatley, but gives explanation

Red Bull Racing not only announced the departure of Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley on Thursday, but they also made it world-renowned that he will start working as team boss at Audi's Formula 1 team (currently Sauber) after a period of gardening leave. In doing so, the Milton Keynes-based team announced the news before Audi, who say they have no comment on the announcement. However, Red Bull claims that talks between the two teams did take place before the announcement.

"Oracle Red Bull Racing today announces the departure of sporting director Jonathan Wheatley. He will take up a new challenge and become team boss at Audi's F1 project," Red Bull's announcement started off by saying on Thursday. With that, Red Bull brought out the news of the switch before Audi itself got that chance.

Normally, the departure of a team member is announced by the team in question, but it is not common for the same statement to announce where the departing employee is going. Asked by GPblog for a comment, Audi said it had no comment. Sauber is also not releasing anything for now.

Audi's lack of a response or statement gives the impression that the announcement - and its timing - was not mutually agreed between the teams. However, Red Bull states that a conversation did take place between Christian Horner and Mattia Binotto, Sauber's new CTO, the morning before the announcement. It is a matter of waiting to see when and in what way Audi will announce its new team boss for 2026.