System 1 has entered the normal summer season break interval, but it surely hasn’t gone quiet but. As soon as once more, bombshell information dropped at Pink Bull as one other long-term figurehead was introduced as leaving. As Pink Bull’s strong pit wall began to interrupt down, McLaren strengthened their ties with their pit wall.
Wheatley will depart Pink Bull
After Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley has additionally determined to go away the Pink Bull Racing crew. He’ll end the present System 1 season, which can be adopted by a interval of gardening depart for 2025, which was introduced on Thursday by Pink Bull.
Wheatley is the second key member of Pink Bull’s employees in just a few months to say goodbye to the crew of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez after this 12 months after Adrian Newey introduced his departure earlier. It was no secret that the 57-year-old Briton had the ambition to develop into crew boss, and he could make that ambition come true at Audi. See the announcement right here.
However is there a little bit of stress between Pink Bull and Audi?
In a relatively distinctive scenario, Pink Bull introduced the vacation spot of Wheatley of their announcement publish. But it surely wasn’t lengthy till Audi confirmed the information themselves. Audi has formally introduced that Jonathan Wheatley will begin work as crew boss of the System 1 crew that can be on the grid from 2026. He’ll crew up with former Ferrari crew boss Mattia Binotto, who was not too long ago introduced as CTO at Sauber. See Audi’s announcement right here.
What roles will Wheatley and Binotto take at Audi?
Mattia Binotto and Jonathan Wheatley will collectively type the brand new administration crew of Sauber Motorsport AG.
As COO and CTO, Binotto will take over the operational administration of Sauber on the Hinwil location, in addition to the technical growth of the longer term racing automobiles. On this function, he’s the technical hyperlink between the event groups in Hinwil and Audi System Racing in Neuburg, liable for powerplant growth. Wheatley will focus totally on the racing efficiency of the longer term F1 manufacturing facility crew, on the operational administration of all racing occasions and on representing Audi within the function of crew principal in all issues referring to System 1. See Audi’s full rationalization right here.
As Pink Bull breakdown, McLaren develop stronger
McLaren have been getting nearer and nearer to Pink Bull over latest months. The truth is, some will argue that the steadiness of energy on the circuit has converted. It is also switching over when it comes to togetherness as effectively.
McLaren have prolonged Andrea Stella’s contract. The Italian crew principal, who took over from Andreas Seidl who left for Sauber, signed a multi-year contract at McLaren. Within the two years since Stella was named crew principal, the crew have gained two Grands Prix, and at the moment are capable of problem Pink Bull after the Austrian’s domination. See the announcement right here.
