A filmmaker with a soft spot for Ronnie Peterson, Gilles Villeneuve, Mika Hakkinen and above all, Tazio Nuvolari and Ayrton Senna, is also a diehard Formula One fan since the age of 4 (mid-90's). An avid researcher of the past of Grand Prix Racing since before it was even named F1, and with a thirst for knowledge of the ins and outs of the actuality of the sport, as well as for the technical aspects that define it, is a member of GPblog since 2023, where he has put his love of racing to good use.
Jonathan Wheatley has worked with some of the greatest drivers of all time. The Brit was a young mechanic for Michael Schumacher at Benetton, and later on he oversaw Sebastian Vettel's and Max Verstappen's stints at Red Bull Racing. Wheatley is thus able to compare these champions.
Of course, comparing drivers from different generations is always difficult. Nonetheless, Wheatley tries to do just that in the podcast Beyond the Grid. When he ranks the drivers he's worked with, he chooses Max Verstappen as the best of them all.
'Verstappen the complete driver'
“I think Max embodies everything that a racing driver needs. I've loved working with him. It was an incredible journey at Red Bull. We didn't get everything right. He and I had some tough conversations over the years as well, but I've been astounded by some of the things he's done in the car. And I still am,” says former Red Bull sporting director, Wheatley.
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Wheatley has since left Red Bull and taken up the role of team principal at Sauber. Even in service of the Swiss team, the Brit often marvels at what Verstappen does. “ I still sit there and watch it sometimes and go, 'wow, I don't know if anyone else can do that'.”
Wheatley thrilled by Verstappen's Japanese Grand Prix win
As an example, Wheatley mentions this year's Japanese Grand Prix, a race Verstappen unexpectedly won. “Even Suzuka just a few races back. It was a pleasure. I messaged him straight after the race and he came straight back as well,” says Wheatley, indicating the strong bond with Verstappen still exists.
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