Sauber has confirmed that incoming Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley will join the Swiss-based Formula 1 outfit on April 1 ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.
Wheatley left his long-serving role as Red Bull Sporting Director at the end of 2024, following a summer announcement that he’d be heading up the Sauber squad ahead of its transformation into Audi.
Originally Wheatley’s gardening leave was expected to run through until the summer but reports in January rumoured that the former Red Bull man would indeed be in Sauber colours in time for the Japanese GP, Round 3 of the 2025 F1 campaign.
Sauber has confirmed that speculation is true and Wheatley is just weeks away from taking on his new role.
Per a team announcement, Sauber revealed that Wheatley and CTO/COO Mattia Binotto will be jointly responsible for the success of the organisation.
“In their respective positions, both Binotto and Wheatley report directly to Gernot Döllner in his role as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sauber Motorsport AG,” the team statement read.
“Binotto and Wheatley are together jointly responsible for the success of the racing team, under a structure that empowers both leaders with clearly defined roles and deliverables.”
Wheatley and Binotto looking forward to Sauber working relationship
When Sauber announced Wheatley would be taking on the mantle of Team Principal in 2025, he expressed looking forward to collaborating with Binotto along with leading Audi into F1.
“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,” he said.
“Also I am glad to be working together with Mattia, whom I have known for many years and who is the right person to collaborate with in this exciting project.“
Those feelings were reciprocated by Binotto, who said: “I have known Jonathan for many years and rate him highly as an experienced and committed motorsport expert.
“2026 is not a long time away now, and I’m looking forward to setting up the new racing team for Audi along with Jonathan and leading it to success.“
Döllner added “With the appointment of Jonathan and Mattia we have taken a decisive step towards our entry into Formula 1.
“I am convinced that with the two of them, we have been able to combine an extremely high level of competence for Audi.
“Their experience and their ability will help us to get a foothold quickly in the tough competitive world of Formula 1.“
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