Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley is all set to join Audi F1 as their new team principal once his current contract ends, find out more about him below along with his salary and net worth
Wheatley has been part of Red Bull ever since 2006 and has played an instrumental role in their success over the years.
Who is Jonathan Wheatley new Audi/Sauber F1 team principal, bio, age, career, salary and net worth
Wheatley will work under Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto who got appointed as Audi’s chief operating and chief technical officer.
Jonathan Wheatley to join Audi F1 as team principal
Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley is all set to leave Red Bull by the end of this year. Following which he will serve a period of gardening leave before joining Audi F1 as their by July 2025. Wheatley will then serve as the new team principal once Audi F1 take over Sauber in 2026.
Following the announcement, Wheatley stated:
I am extremely proud to have been a part of the Red Bull Racing journey over the last 18 years and will leave with many fond memories. However, the opportunity to play an active part in Audi’s entry into Formula 1 as head of a factory team is a uniquely exciting prospect, and I am looking forward to the challenge.”
The announcement comes just over a week after the news that Audi F1 team CEO Andreas Seidl will leave. Moreover, Sauber board chairman Oliver Hoffmann is also set to leave with ex-Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto set to replace him.
Jonathan Wheatley bio and age
Jonathan Wheatley is a British Formula One mechanic and team manager who was born on May 7, 1967. He is currently 57 years old, and works as the Sporting Director of F1 team Red Bull Racing having been associated with the team for 18 years. Wheatley lives in Beaconsfield, which is an English town located about an hour from Milton Keynes.
Nationality
Jonathan Wheatley is a British national.
Career and achievements
Jonathan Wheatley started off his motorsport career at Benetton as a junior mechanic in the early 1990s. He eventually became the chief mechanic from 2001 up until 2006 when he left to join Red Bull Racing. During his time there, the team managed to win two World Constructors’ Championship titles and 33 Grands Prix.
Wheatley initially joined Red Bull to ensure that the team operated within the FIA sporting regulations, and monitored communication. Wheatley also supervised the Red Bull pit crew, who broke the then-world record for fastest Formula One pit stop during the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix. McLaren eventually beat the record during the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix by a time of 1.80 seconds.
Earlier this year, Red Bull announced on August 1, 2024 that Wheatley would depart as Sporting Director by the end of the 2024 season. The team announced that Wheatley would join Audi as their first Team Principal after a brief period of gardening leave. During his time with Red Bull, the team won six World Constructors’ Championship titles and 120 Grands Prix.
Jonathan Wheatley net worth
According to various reports, Jonathan Wheatley has an estimated net worth of over $22.5m (£17.5m). Most of his income comes from his 30-year-career in Formula 1.
It remains to be seen what wage Audi agreed to pay Jonathan Wheatley to appoint him as the team principal of Sauber with his salary at Red Bull unknown as well.
ALSO READ: Who is Instagram influencer Connie Grace alleged girlfriend of Cole Palmer