Audi F1 project thrown into chaos after just two races

Binotto and Wheatley in Audi F1 adidas kit with F1 car in the background — Photo: © IMAGO

Audi F1 News

Audi F1 project thrown into chaos after just two races

The Audi F1 project has hit trouble already

Kerry Violet F1 News Editor

F1 editor and journalist covering motorsport since 2024.

Monday 23 March 2026 09:44

The Audi Formula 1 project has been thrown into disarray after a mere two race weekends on the F1 2026 calendar.

The squad formerly known as Sauber completed their transition into Audi ahead of the new regulations cycle in F1, but aside from some sleek branding and eye-catching new team kit, not much had changed among the team personnel.

The driver duo of Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg also remained after their first year at the squad in 2025, with the pair sticking around to see the German giants complete their takeover.

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Audi appeared to have done everything they could to hit the ground running in their first year as an F1 outfit, with lofty goals and some serious backing making them quiet contenders for future championships.

At least, that's what they had hoped.

Instead, after the opening two race weekends on the 2026 calendar, Audi's F1 team principal Jonathan Wheatley has upped and left the squad he seemed so dedicated to growing with.

Audi cited 'personal reasons' for his exit amid rumours that Wheatley is actually eyeing up a move to take over from Adrian Newey as Aston Martin team principal.

Prior to confirmation of the former Red Bull chief's Audi exit, reports had circulated that Aston Martin had approached Wheatley about their team principal role, with rumours suggesting the Brit hadn't declined the offer due to an interest in moving back to the UK, something he could do with the Silverstone-based Aston Martin team.

But Audi saw this coming. As well as their Hinwil chassis/race operations centre and Neuberg PU site, they even opened a technology centre in Bicester in the heart of the UK's motorsport valley, perhaps in hope of poaching some of the best talent from rival F1 teams.

If Wheatley does go on to replace Newey at Aston Martin, it would be a blow to Audi's credibility. So where does this leave them after such an early setback in their tenure as an F1 team?

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Wheatley exit hasn't changed Audi's bold F1 goal

Audi’s statement cited ‘personal reasons’ for Wheatley’s exit and confirmed that former Ferrari F1 boss Mattia Binotto would take on additional team principal responsibilities as well as juggling his role as Head of the Audi F1 project following the shock leadership change.

But Audi's official announcement regarding Wheatley's departure also hinted a full-time replacement for the Brit would be appointed further down the line.

Audi’s statement read: "Mattia Binotto, Head of Audi F1 Project, will continue leading the team while taking over additional responsibilities as Team Principal. Since joining at the helm of the project in 2024, Mattia has been in charge of the transformation of the team as Audi prepared for and ultimately entered F1 as a chassis and power unit manufacturer.

"The team's future structure will be fully defined at a later stage, as the organisation continues to adapt to the evolving environment of Formula 1."

What's next for Audi in F1?

Deep down, Audi would surely agree that it is far from ideal to be looking for a new F1 team boss already, but the German automotive giants put on a united front (as expected) when announcing Wheatley's exit.

The team reassured their fans and stakeholders that their commitment to making a splash in the pinnacle of motorsport remained unchanged by, writing: "With the unwavering commitment of AUDI AG, Audi Revolut F1 Team will continue progressing towards challenging for championships by 2030."

But so far, Audi have only picked up two championship points in 2026, with Bortoleto not even able to start the Chinese Grand Prix last time out due to technical issues with his new machinery.

This leaves them on the same amount of points as Williams, who have suffered a dismal start to the new regulations cycle, above only new squad Cadillac and the struggling Aston Martin squad, who are yet to finish a full grand prix.

When is the next F1 race?

Audi F1 drivers Bortoleto and Hulkenberg will return for the third round of the 2026 championship with a new team principal in the form of Binotto in Suzuka next time out.

The next grand prix will take place on Sunday, March 29, as the Japanese Grand Prix returns before a long break in April following confirmation from F1 that both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs have been cancelled due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Written by

Kerry Violet - F1 News Editor

Having graduated from the University of Sheffield with a 2:1 in Journalism in 2022, Kerry continued her pursuit of finding a full-time position in motorsport through work with the F1 Arcade in London, where she got to meet true fans of the sport and make a live grand prix watch party memorable for them. It was here that she confirmed her dream of combining her background in journalism and love of motorsport, going on to volunteer with the female-led platform Empoword Journalism. Having completed stints as a screen editor and sports editor, Kerry landed her first F1-specific editorial role with GPFans and has thoroughly enjoyed continuing to work closely with the sport ever since. The access GPFans offers Kerry has allowed her to interview big names such as Naomi Schiff and David Coulthard and given her experiences she could only have dreamt of as a young F1 fan.

View full biography

F1 Aston Martin Audi Jonathan Wheatley Mattia Binotto