Wheatley: Why I left Red Bull after 19 years for Kick Sauber
Jonathan Wheatley, Team Principal at Sauber. Image: Race Pictures
13:16, 06 Sep 2025
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Samson Ero is a Formula 1 editor at GPblog with seven years’ experience in sports media. He covers key paddock developments, offering analysis on drivers, teams, and performance trends, with work featured on leading platforms.
Jonathan Wheatley has recently opened up on his departure from the Red Bull Racing outfit. The 58-year-old detailed how he always harboured the ambition of being a team principal.
The British motorsport chief, who took over the reins at the Kick Sauber team in April, explained how it had always been a dream of his despite his long-standing commitment to Red Bull.
Speaking in an interview via De Telegraaf, Wheatley stated:
“But I can't say that being a team principal has always been a dream of mine. I always say I've been incredibly unambitious.”
“It might sound crazy, but what I mean is that I've always fully committed myself to my employer in my role. When I say it was always my ultimate goal, it's been a rather dramatic career path. Because it took me 34 years to achieve it.”
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Jonathan Wheatley, Team Principal at Sauber
Wheatley opens up on the moment he considered leaving Red Bull
The Swiss outfit’s team principal also touched on the moments that shaped his decision to leave Red Bull. Wheatley highlighted how the exit of Adrian Newey also contributed to his own departure.
“Last year, sitting in my office where I'd been for about nineteen years, I started thinking. Do I sign another long-term contract, remain sporting director, or do something outside my comfort zone?”
“I've never been a frontrunner at Red Bull, and I didn't want to be. But when it was announced in early May last year that Adrian Newey would be leaving, some people suddenly started wondering: what will Jonathan Wheatley do next? From the moment I spoke with Gernot Döllner (CEO of Audi, ed.), I was enthusiastic. And I felt like I needed that.”
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