F1 boss frustrated by ludicrous work problem plaguing team

F1 team principal Jonathan Wheatley has revealed the key factor hindering his team’s progress as Audi prepares to take over in 2026.

Since joining Sauber at the start of this year, Wheatley has been faced with the monumental task of transforming the team’s fortunes from a backmarker to a competitive outfit.

As 2025 have progressed, Sauber have enjoyed some headline grabbing moments, from Nico Hulkenberg’s first podium at Silverstone to Gabriel Bortoleto's first points; but according to Wheatley there is still a lot of work to be done with the team.

"I expected a team that didn't have much energy to it and that was maybe slightly older in terms of demographic of people here. It's the opposite of that, actually. There's a huge ambition with this very young team,” he said to The Race.

"The facility doesn't help us at the moment. It's not a huge problem, but we have a development project for the facility to give people the space and the tools that they need. It's a relatively old building, an old wind tunnel now.

“We've had quite an ambitious recruitment drive, so office space has been difficult, and meeting space almost impossible - that's just the day-to-day things big teams can just take for granted. We're putting those building blocks in place, so we're still putting the foundations in.”

Can Audi become a competitive team?

Not only do Sauber and Audi have a former Red Bull sporting director in Wheatley to guide them forwards, but also former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto as their CEO.

Alongside their main factory in Hinwil and Audi's engine department at Neuberg an der Donau, a UK base is also in the pipeline for the team as they prepare to take a step up the grid.

In the past four grands prix, Sauber have scored more points than Red Bull a sign that the Audi project could be a successful one should the team’s infrastructure improve.

"We have to be humble about our journey, where we're trying to get to from where we started, but I can't see any impediments to that,” Wheatley continued.

“The team's young and full of energy, so it needs a bit of direction, a bit of structure.

"It's not because people are bad; there isn't a clear reporting structure, there isn't a clear process, people don't completely understand their roles and responsibilities and where they're free to make decisions. So there's a cultural project and there's a structural project under way as well."

F1 HEADLINES: Hamilton facing impossible decision as F1 champion open to amazing return

READ MORE: Inside Hamilton's staggering $450M net worth: Ferrari salary, real estate value & more

READ MORE: F1 driver salaries: What stars including Hamilton and Verstappen earn

READ MORE: 'Sickening' fatal crash prompted Mercedes F1 star Russell to take action

Related

Audi F1 News

Audi F1 team boss champions 'relentless ambition' after completing MAJOR deal

• July 30, 2025 18:14

Latest F1 News

F1 team principal gives Sergio Perez green light for sensational return

• July 12, 2025 13:57