The impact of Audi's shock Red Bull signing

Audi has poached a key member of Red Bull's F1 empire to be its new team principal - a move that has a big impact on both teams.

Recruiting Red Bull's long-serving sporting director Jonathan Wheatley to head up the day-to-day running of Audi's F1 team is a significant opening gambit from Mattia Binotto, the ex-Ferrari man only recently appointed by Audi to run the Sauber side of the show. Especially as Wheatley was announced on Binotto's first official day in his new job - something we don't think is a coincidence.

Wheatley does not have a huge profile outside the F1 paddock, even though he will be known to committed fans and maybe to a slightly broader audience for his infamous role in the controversial Abu Dhabi 2021 title decider exchanging radio messages with then-race director Michael Masi.

But Binotto will be very familiar with Wheatley and what he offers from their pasts as rivals.

00:00 Introduction
02:18 Targeting a clear weakness
06:00 Another blow to Red Bull
07:51 Audi's next priority
09:22 The overshadowed part of Audi

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[Uranswer-yukp]

Audi is making good moves. It seemed at first that they were loosing control but I’m glad that they look like they are moving forward in a solid direction.

[randomguy]

Sooner or later there will be only Horner left at Redbull.. Ohh and Perez

[Les_Grossmans_Ego]

RedBull is crossing the event horizon.

[dylanelliott]

I honestly think Sainz will come to regret snubbing Audi for Williams.

[SandraMWilson]

Bottas is still one of the fastest driver on the current grid line up. All he needs is a competitive car and he can get the job done.

[stdpugf]

Memes aside Binotto cooked with this one 🐐

[michaeldellorso]

“Shock” is the last word I’d use to describe this. Wheatley has been rumored to want a TP role for years and Audi just fired their TP…

And RBR are in free-fall.

[alicekoppenol-pitti]

Mateschitz was the glue within Red Bull. He kept this team together for almost 18 years. With him gone and a new leadership structure, this was bound to happen. Wheatley isn't getting any younger and if he wants to be a team principal this is the only opportunity he will get.

[A.psychedelic.hood-rainbow]

You know what would be crazy? If Adrian Newey just wakes up one day and also decides to go to Audi, I bet Redbull would lose their shii

[UtkarshKumar]

Hannah Schmitz for the new RBR sporting director and probably the youngest in that position!

[joe_]

Okay, at first I was skeptical about Audi acquiring Mattia, but seeing that he will not be the team principal but rather snagging Wheatley from Red Bull and assigning Wheatley to the team principal role shows how serious Audi is about its entry into F1.

[TheCebulon]

One of the best channels about F1 news. Thanks.
To the point, not repetitive.

[sz]

Bottas v. Hulk would be really interesting. This era of cars suits Nico and if he had waited, he'd probably be a Red Bull driver next year.

[Fail-nvqh]

Back when Horner’s sexual misconduct was revealed and his job was in jeopardy, Wheatley was the guy I thought Red Bull would’ve replaced Horner with. I honestly kinda wish that happened- Horner gets sacked and then Wheatley took over.

[ilhamrafi]

Now one last announcement that we need is where exactly Adrian Newey gonna go? Is he retiring now? Or will he go for one final hurrah before retiring?

[andrewsycamore]

I love how Audi are changing things before they get started. Getting the best people they can get on board early. Given their track record in other motorsport disciplines, i wouldn't be surprised if they hit the ground sprinting

[FhatuwaniManyane]

I understand their focus on management people, they should also put important focus on pitstop crew positions

[Pedro]

Hopefully they sign Liam Lawson come September as well.
RBR are dissolving.

[Prstag]

It makes perfect sense for Audi to keep hold of Bottas. He has proved if you give him the car and he will deliver he did it time and again whilst at Mercedes. If he has the car he will get results the only reason he is at the back of the grid is because Saubers car absolutely stinks.

[NursetDesheriyev-fj]

122 personnel working in Red bull racing and Red bull technologies have left since February and all with over 5 years of experience and these are just technical personals and doesn't include the recent outgoing of Johnathan and also Adrian. We were all laughing at Jos Verstappen when he made his public comments in Bahrain but I guess we all owe him a apology because Red bull went from begin 6 tenths clear in Bahrain to being 2 tenths slower than Mclaren and now 0.15s slower than Mercedes since Silverstone. To make it worse there upgraded low downforce rear and front wings didn't work and they ended up using Jeddah spec