Audi names Allan McNish as F1 racing director

Audi has appointed former Le Mans winner and long-time brand ambassador Allan McNish as the Racing Director for its new Formula 1 team, filling a crucial trackside leadership role. McNish will oversee all sporting and performance operations during race weekends, reporting directly to Team Principal and CEO Mattia Binotto, who will remain primarily factory-based.

Why it matters:

This appointment solidifies the trackside command structure for Audi's highly anticipated 2026 F1 entry. With Binotto focusing on the massive technical transformation at the factory, having a seasoned and trusted figure like McNish managing the race team is critical for translating development work into on-track performance from day one.

The details:

• McNish assumes responsibilities previously held by Jonathan Wheatley, who left the team unexpectedly in March. Following that departure, Binotto confirmed he would take the Team Principal title but needed a race-weekend lead.
• The Role: As Racing Director, McNish will be the senior trackside figure, managing engineering, strategy, and driver operations during Grand Prix weekends to ensure optimal performance.
• McNish's Pedigree: The Scot is deeply embedded in Audi's motorsport history, having won the 24 Hours of Le Mans three times with the brand and the 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship. Since retiring, he has led Audi's Formula E team and most recently headed its driver development program.
• Binotto's Strategy: The CEO stated his focus must be on the "transformation" at the factory, making a dedicated race-weekend leader essential. He praised McNish's combination of "racing experience, technical understanding and leadership."
• McNish will continue to oversee Audi's driver development programme, including mentoring its F1 Academy drivers, alongside his new duties.

What's next:

McNish's immediate task is to build and synchronize the race team's operations as Audi accelerates its preparation for the 2026 season.

• His deep institutional knowledge of Audi and experience in managing top-tier motorsport programs will be vital in establishing team culture and processes.
• This move signals Audi is entering a critical operational phase, shifting from planning and development to active team building and performance planning under its new leadership structure.