Audi F1 project restructured with Binotto and Wheatley at the helm

Audi revamps its Formula 1 team ahead of 2026, appointing Mattia Binotto and Jonathan Wheatley to lead development and operations.

Audi is radically reshaping its Formula 1 structure ahead of its 2026 championship debut, reinforcing the project with experienced personnel and transitioning to a centralized management model. The key announcement is the appointment of Mattia Binotto, former Ferrari Team Principal, as Head of the Audi F1 Project. He will oversee all development activities — from chassis to power unit — across facilities in Hinwil, Neuburg, and a future technical center in the UK.

Binotto’s arrival signals Audi’s ambition to leverage his extensive engineering background and deep understanding of Formula 1 structures. Despite a turbulent exit from Ferrari, his tenure with the Scuderia earned him a reputation for systemic, strategic leadership — potentially a decisive asset for Audi’s ambitious venture.

Supporting Binotto is Jonathan Wheatley, the former Sporting Director of Red Bull Racing. Since April 2025, he has served as Team Principal at Sauber Motorsport AG — soon to be Audi’s official works team. Wheatley will lead race operations and represent Audi in strategic forums within the sport. His move is seen as an effort to strengthen operational excellence, drawing on a history of championship campaigns and record-breaking pit stops.

Within Audi Formula Racing GmbH, significant internal changes are also underway. Christian Foyer has taken over as Chief Operating Officer, succeeding Adam Baker. A seasoned engineer with 18 years in F1 operations, Foyer is tasked with optimizing processes and delivering cross-functional synergy. Meanwhile, the CEO position has been eliminated, and Technical Director Stefan Dreyer assumes an additional role as spokesperson for the AFR board.

Audi’s overarching strategy is clear: integrate engineering and operations into a single streamlined structure to accelerate development and enhance competitiveness. The power unit is already undergoing bench testing, and preparations for the 2026 campaign include the construction of a UK-based technical center, scheduled to open by summer 2025. This facility aims to attract top-tier engineers unwilling to relocate to Sauber’s Swiss base.

The transformation was formalized in early 2025, when Audi completed its full acquisition of Sauber Holding AG, cementing its status as a full-fledged works team. The technical ambition matches the organizational overhaul: Audi is testing its hybrid power unit in simulator runs on tracks like Singapore, Spielberg, and Las Vegas. The official debut is expected during pre-season testing in Barcelona in January 2026.

Driver-wise, Audi has reportedly signed Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto. Meanwhile, speculation around names like Sebastian Vettel and Esteban Ocon remains unconfirmed.

Both the FIA and Formula One Management have confirmed Audi’s entry into the sport starting in 2026. Competition in the new era looks fierce — Red Bull aligns with Ford, while Mercedes and Ferrari support multiple customer teams. Against this backdrop, Audi’s focus on synergy, innovation, and management reinforcement seems less like a cautious entry and more like a calculated challenge for dominance.

Source: audi-mediacenter.com