Wheatley Discusses Audi's 2026 PU Challenges Before Exit

Outgoing Audi team principal Jonathan Wheatley revealed he held extensive talks with Mattia Binotto about the team's 2026 power unit, identifying it as a key area for improvement. Wheatley's departure, confirmed last week, paves the way for his expected move to Aston Martin as Adrian Newey's preferred candidate for a permanent team principal role.

Why it matters:

Wheatley's candid assessment, delivered just before his exit, provides a rare and critical insider look at the challenges facing the Audi project. His impending move to Aston Martin, orchestrated by former Red Bull colleague Adrian Newey, signals a significant shift in the team principal market and could strengthen a direct competitor.

The details:

• Wheatley confirmed the 2026 power unit is a primary "area of focus" for Audi following analysis of the first two races of the new regulations cycle.
• He highlighted driveability as a specific weakness, explaining it cost Nico Hülkenberg in wheel-to-wheel battles in China, where recovering the engine's operating window proved difficult.
• When pressed on technical details regarding engine deployment, Wheatley deferred to Binotto's expertise, stating the issue relates to the PU's "response... when you have to react rather than act."
• Despite a short tenure, Wheatley's impact at Sauber/Audi was notable, delivering the team's first podium since 2012 and improving pit stop performance.
• Audi's start to the 2026 season has been mixed, with a points finish in Australia but also two Did Not Start (DNS) incidents in Melbourne and Shanghai.

What's next:

The focus now shifts to the leadership and technical trajectory of both teams involved.

• At Audi, Mattia Binotto assumes the team principal role on an interim basis as the team defines its long-term structure and addresses the acknowledged power unit shortcomings.
• At Aston Martin, Lawrence Stroll has publicly reaffirmed his partnership with Adrian Newey, who continues as Managing Technical Partner. While not commenting directly on Wheatley, Stroll's statement emphasizes a non-traditional leadership model but leaves the door open for a strategic appointment to support Newey's technical focus.