F1 Roundup: Audi Confirms Wheatley Departure as Lawrence Stroll Reaffirms Adrian Newey’s Strategic Leadership

F1 Roundup: Jonathan Wheatley leaves Audi for Aston Martin as Lawrence Stroll reaffirms Newey’s leadership and Mercedes appoints a new Deputy Team Principal.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 21, 2026, 9:03 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from PlanetF1

The Immediate Resignation of Audi’s Team Principal

The Audi F1 project has undergone a sudden leadership transition following the confirmed departure of Jonathan Wheatley with immediate effect. Wheatley, who joined from Red Bull to lead the Hinwil-based squad, had successfully overseen the team’s initial transformation into a factory manufacturer. In his absence, Mattia Binotto, the head of the Audi F1 project, will assume the duties of Team Principal. This move follows reports that Wheatley had emerged as the primary candidate to take over day-to-day management at Aston Martin, a move that would reunite him with his former Red Bull colleague, Adrian Newey.

Stroll Clarifies the Hierarchical Vision at Aston Martin

Following the news of Wheatley's exit from Audi, Aston Martin Executive Chairman Lawrence Stroll moved to "set the record straight" regarding the internal structure of his team. Stroll reaffirmed his absolute confidence in Adrian Newey, describing him as a vital partner and shareholder rather than just an employee. While Newey has been serving as the team principal since the end of last year, Stroll emphasized that the team’s unique management model is designed to allow Newey to focus on strategic and technical leadership. The chairman noted that while senior executives from other teams regularly approach Aston Martin, the current structure remains a deliberate choice for success.

Internal Impressions of Newey’s Management Style

Despite the search for a permanent administrative lead, the impact of Adrian Newey’s leadership is already being felt within the Silverstone campus. Driver Lance Stroll described Newey as an "inspiring" and "obsessed" leader, focused entirely on extracting performance from the AMR26. This dedication is particularly critical as the team navigates a challenging start to the 2026 season, currently hampered by severe vibrations originating from its new Honda power unit. Newey's transition into a management role has been marked by his effort to instill a championship-winning culture while simultaneously troubleshooting early-season technical hurdles.