Red Bull Racing earlier today released a statement saying Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley is leavig the team at the end of 2024, as he heads to a new challenge, taking up the role of Team Principal with the Audi F1 Project.
Weirdly enough however Audi has not put out a statement nor answered journalists’ queries yet. As Tobi Grüner noted, there is no official comment yet from Hinwil or Germany.
Apparently RBR has a history of doing this as back in the day, Horner told press that Sebastian Vettel would leave the team for Ferrari while the italian team wasnt ready fo announce that yet.
What do you think happened here?
Audi’s statement seems to have gone up a few hours after the announcement by Red Bull: https://www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/press-releases/jonathan-wheatley-will-be-team-principal-of-the-future-audi-f1-factory-team-16134
Autospot op-ed says this is a more significant departure than Newey leaving: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/ben-hunt-red-bull-will-feel-wheatley-loss-more-than-neweys-departure/10641153/
Apparently his departure was rumored since May? My first time hearing about that.
I think the rumours where always told to the public as “high ranking RBR personnel sending CVs around”. I hadnt read a specific “Wheatley might leave” story either.