Fans overwhelmingly back Jonathan Wheatley as Aston Martin team principal

summary: An F1 poll finds 51.6% of fans want Jonathan Wheatley to replace Adrian Newey as Aston Martin’s team principal, while only 8% back the current setup. The team's rough start to 2026 fuels the debate.

content:

Aston Martin’s leadership is under fire after a shaky start to the 2026 season, with both cars retiring in Australia and China and the team posting the slowest pre‑season times. The poll, fielded by RacingNews365, shows a clear appetite for change among the sport’s most vocal supporters.

Why it matters:

• Leadership stability is vital for turning design strength into race results after early‑season retirements.
• Fan sentiment can sway sponsor confidence and internal morale, pressuring the team to act quickly.
• The team’s underwhelming performance has dented sponsor confidence, making a leadership overhaul a commercial imperative.

The details:

• 51.6% of fans want Jonathan Wheatley – the ex‑Red Bull sporting director who left Audi after less than a year – as team principal.
• Christian Horner trails with 21% support; 8.1% each favour keeping the status quo or promoting Mike Krack to full team‑principal.

What's next:

• Newey remains the official team principal while Krack handles most public duties; no formal Wheatley offer has emerged.
• If a change is approved, Wheatley could join before the summer break, giving him time to shape the British‑based outfit ahead of the mid‑season.