Fórmula 1 is experiencing another chapter of intense team movements at the start of the 2026 season. His departure comes amid strong speculation that he will take over as head of Aston Martin, replacing Adrian Newey, who should once again dedicate himself exclusively to the technical development of the AMR26 car.
Newey assumed the role of team leader at Aston Martin at the end of 2025, after replacing Andy Cowell amid internal adjustments. The British team has faced serious difficulties since the beginning of the year, with the car presenting reliability and performance problems that prevent regular race completions. Newey’s absence from the China GP fueled rumors about his departure from management, although the team initially denied any drastic changes.
Aston Martin confirmed that Newey remains in the project, but in a pure technical role. Wheatley, who worked for years at Red Bull alongside Newey, appears as the most popular name for the position. Sua experience includes a stint as sporting director at Red Bull until the end of 2024, before migrating to Sauber, which became Audi in 2026.
The transition at Audi leaves Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg without the boss who has led them since the Sauber transition. Bortoleto scored points in the Austrália GP with a ninth place, the team’s best result so far this season. The pair faced reliability problems, including failures that prevented race starts.
Details of the departure of Wheatley from Audi
Audi announced the departure of Wheatley for personal reasons. Mattia Binotto, CEO of the team, assumes leadership roles on the track on an interim basis. Wheatley shared responsibilities with Binotto since the start of operation as a German factory team.
The change comes after just two stages of the season. Audi occupies an intermediate position in the constructors’ championship, with points gained mainly by Bortoleto in its debut in Melbourne. Hülkenberg also showed competitive pace in qualifying, but mechanical issues limited his results.
Expected impact on the structure of Audi
The departure creates instability in the German team. Binotto must coordinate the technical department and track operations until a new head is defined. The Audi invested heavily in the transition from the Sauber and in the development of its own engine for 2026.
Bortoleto maintains a good relationship with the technical structure. The Brazilian highlighted the collective work in the pre-season tests and in the first races. The team seeks to stabilize the car to avoid recurring abandonments.
Relationship between Newey and Wheatley in Red Bull
Newey and Wheatley shared two decades at Red Bull. The partnership resulted in multiple constructor and driver titles. The proximity facilitates the integration of Wheatley into Aston Martin, where he would gain greater autonomy in daily management.
The Aston Martin faces precarious synchronization between the chassis and the Honda engine. Newey mentioned lack of prior knowledge about recent redesigns of the Japanese power unit. His exclusive focus on technique aims to resolve vibrations and faults that affect performance.
Current situation of Aston Martin in the season
The British team accumulates abandonments and results outside the points zone in the first two races. Fernando Alonso and other pilots reported consistent difficulties. The team minimized specific absences of Newey, stating that they were planned.
Wheatley could face a period of gardening leave before taking over. Aston Martin is looking for a quick recovery ahead of the Japão GP, scheduled for March 27-29 at Suzuka, Japanese local time.
Prospects for Bortoleto at Audi
Bortoleto continues as a central piece in the Audi project. The rookie driver showed consistency in qualifying and races. The departure of Wheatley represents a loss of experienced leadership, but the technical structure remains intact.
The German team plans internal adjustments to maintain progress. Bortoleto and Hülkenberg should receive reinforced support for the next steps. The focus remains on evolving the car to fight for more advanced positions.
Fórmula 1 continues to closely monitor these changes. The decisions directly affect the balance between teams on the 2026 grid.