Formula 1 team has to reshuffle
After a quick farewell: Audi names new race director
April 24, 2026 – 3:56 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Jonathan Wheatley surprisingly left the German racing team. The gap he left behind is now being filled again – with a well-known name.
After the surprising departure of Jonathan Wheatley as team boss of the Formula 1 racing team Audi, Allan McNish becomes race director. The Bavarian automobile manufacturer confirmed this. The 56-year-old Scot was head of the German factory team’s youth program until recently. McNish will take up his new position from next week’s Miami Grand Prix.
“His area of responsibility includes sporting topics, coordination in engineering, driver management, race strategy and processes in the garage as well as media and partner-related activities on the track,” said Audi. He reports directly to team boss and project manager Mattia Binotto.
“Allan brings an exceptional combination of racing experience, technical understanding and leadership to this role,” said Binotto. “He has been a central part of Audi’s motorsport structure for many years and has played an important role in the Formula 1 team’s preparation for Formula 1 since the launch, not least through his work around technical partnerships.”
Just a few days before the third round of the season in Japan, Audi surprisingly announced Wheatley’s departure “for personal reasons”. The Brit formed a dual leadership role with Binotto at the German factory team and was only in office for a year. Binotto then took over Wheatley’s duties and at the same time announced a reorganization of the team leadership.
Former Formula 1 driver McNish has been associated with Audi for a long time. With the German manufacturer he was twice winner of the Le Mans endurance classic and also head of the Audi Formula E team. He has been head of the youth department since the beginning of this year. Next week, after a month’s break, Formula 1 will continue its season with the Miami Grand Prix.
“The project we are building is ambitious. My focus is to ensure that all areas of our racing operations operate at the highest competitive level and continue to evolve,” said McNish.
