- Newey likely to scale back role soon but replacement not confirmed
- Audi’s Wheatley has left Audi with immediate effect
- Newey will switch focus to technical matters amid difficult start to season for Aston Martin
Aston Martin team principal Adrian Newey remains at the helm of the Formula One outfit but speculation is mounting around the future of his role after Audi confirmed the departure of team boss Jonathan Wheatley.
Autosport reported on Thursday that the 67-year-old was set to scale back his role, with Wheatley to be named as his replacement.
However, a team spokesperson described the reports to BlackBook Motorsport as “rumour and speculation”.
The spokesperson added: “Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team remains fully committed to Adrian Newey as managing technical partner and team principal.”
Since then, ESPN has reported that Newey will step down from his role to focus on technical matters within the team. BBC Sport has also reported that Aston Martin has approached Wheatley about the role.
On Friday, Audi confirmed that Wheatley would depart the team with immediate effect. Mattia Binotto will continue to serve as head of the Audi F1 Project, but will combine this role with the additional responsibilities of team principal.
That was followed by a statement from Aston Martin’s billionaire owner Lawrence Stroll, who said: “With the current speculation surrounding Adrian Newey’s role in our team, I want to take this opportunity to set the record straight.
“As executive chairman and controlling shareholder, I would like to reaffirm that Adrian Newey is my partner and an important shareholder. He is AMR’s managing technical partner, and he and I have a true partnership built on a shared vision of success for the company.
“We do things differently here, and while we don’t currently adopt the traditional team principal role that you see elsewhere – it is by design.
“As the most successful engineer in the history of the sport, Adrian’s primary focus is on the strategic and technical leadership where he excels. He is supported by a highly skilled senior leadership team to deliver on all aspects of the business, both at the campus and trackside.
“We are regularly approached by senior executives of other teams who wish to join Aston Martin Aramco, but in keeping with our policy, we do not comment on rumour and speculation.”
Newey officially joined Aston Martin on 1st March 2025 as managing technical partner before the surprise announcement that he would become team principal for the start of the 2026 season.
Known for being quiet and reserved, many felt the demands of team leadership were not suited to Newey’s technical prowess. Various reports indicate that Newey is assisting the search for his successor.
Newey and Wheatley know each other well from their time together at Red Bull Racing. The duo formed part of a hugely successful outfit that won six constructors’ championships between 2010 and 2023.
Wheatley has been team principal of Audi since the start of the 2025 season – when they raced under the Sauber name – and oversaw a dramatic shift from clear backmarkers the year prior to his arrival to a more competitive midfield team.
Aston Martin have suffered a terrible start to the 2026 season due to severe deficiencies with their Honda engine and will hope to benefit from Wheatley’s powers of recovery should he be appointed.
If a deal is ultimately agreed, Newey may have to continue as team principal for some time as Audi would not want to bolster a direct rival at the start of a new phase of regulations.
According to ESPN, the plan was always for Newey’s role as team boss to be temporary, while the publication has also reported that any new hire would report to him in the new structure.
Other candidates approached for the role reportedly include Max Verstappen’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase and former McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl.
If Newey is ultimately replaced this season, his successor will be Aston Martin’s fifth team principal in the past six seasons.
(This story has been updated following confirmation of Jonathan Wheatley’s departure from Audi)
Enjoying this content? We think you’d be interested in our upcoming event, the BlackBook Motorsport Forum.
Taking place at Mercure London, Earls Court on 24th March 2026, join the entire motorsport ecosystem to examine the forces driving performance, profitability, and long-term growth.