P1racenews AI automatic summary:
In the first part of an exclusive interview with Motorsport Week, Jonathan Wheatley has spoken in-depth about what has helped shape him into the Audi F1 boss he is today.
Jonathan Wheatley’s extensive background in motorsports, from starting as a mechanic at Benetton to becoming Sporting Director at Red Bull and leading the Sauber team, has prepared him for his role as the head boss of the new Audi Formula 1 team in 2026.
Beyond his professional success, Wheatley’s passion for cars, nurtured from a young age by his father’s racing activities and his own experiences working on cars, has been a driving force in shaping him into the Team Principal he is today at Audi.
Growing up around motorsports and hands-on experiences with racing, including karting and working on his own car at a young age, has instilled in Wheatley a deep connection to the sport and a strong foundation of knowledge and skills.
His early exposure to iconic Audi models and the allure of witnessing powerful racing cars in action further fueled Wheatley’s love for motorsports and drew him towards the opportunity to lead Audi’s foray into Formula 1.
Wheatley’s journey from a childhood immersed in racing to his current position as a key figure in Audi’s F1 venture exemplifies how his personal and professional experiences have converged to shape his remarkable career in the world of motorsports.
