Audi finds successor to former team boss Wheatley

Audi has named former Le Mans champion Allan McNish to take over many duties of ex‑team boss Jonathan Wheatley. He will work under project director Mattia Binotto and debut at the Miami Grand Prix.

Why it matters:

• Provides stability for an F1 entry that lost its senior manager just weeks before launch.
• McNish’s Le Mans pedigree and experience leading Audi’s Formula E team lend technical credibility.
• A clear chain of command reassures sponsors, engineers and prospective drivers about the team’s long‑term vision.

The details:

• Current role: Leads Audi’s driver development programme (since 2023).
• New responsibilities: Media liaison, race‑director duties on race weekends, and day‑to‑day ops oversight.
• Timeline: Expected to start at the Miami Grand Prix, the season‑opening race of 2026.

What's next:

• McNish will debut at Miami, testing media handling and race‑day coordination.
• Audi’s 2026 schedule includes pre‑season testing in Bahrain and a full‑season launch, with McNish’s role likely to grow as the team matures.