Jonathan Wheatley has been the new team boss at Sauber since April 1—how he describes his role and why he is looking forward to the team boss meetings
Jonathan Wheatley officially took over as team principal at Sauber on April 1, 2025 – a significant step for the Swiss racing team as it prepares for Audi’s entry as a works team in 2026.
When asked about his new role, Wheatley explains that he was particularly attracted by the shared leadership structure with Mattia Binotto. “I had the opportunity to continue my career in the UK – there were several options. I didn’t have to come here to take this step,” he says. But the special division of responsibilities and the ambitious project convinced him.
“What I really liked was the understanding that a season with 24 races is something completely different and demands a lot from the people who are in the factory all the time. I’ve just tried to do that for three weeks. Imagine having to do that for ten months.”
“So the good news is that I can’t imagine anyone better than Mattia when it comes to bringing the chassis and powertrain together and creating this incredibly strong, performance-oriented organization,” says Wheatley.
He himself started out as a mechanic at Benetton in the early 1990s and later moved to Renault. He had been sporting director at Red Bull Racing since 2006.
In this role, Wheatley played a key role in shaping the sporting structure of one of the most successful teams of the last two decades, winning various constructors’ and drivers’ titles. His organizational skills, particularly in building the much-admired pit stop team, made him a central figure behind the scenes.
His area of responsibility at Sauber will begin “where the car leaves the factory.” His task will be to surround himself with people “who are significantly more talented than me” and to create an environment in which they can give their best.
Wheatley was also asked about the political component of his new role, such as the infamous team boss meetings. “Politics? In Formula 1?” he replied with a wink, before admitting that he was of course familiar with such dynamics. ‘This is not a completely new situation for me.’
He has represented teams in sporting committees for many years and knows very well how to exert influence in this environment. ”I’m looking forward to getting started. And I wonder if it’s like Netflix or if people are just normal,” he says, alluding to ‘Drive To Survive.’ ‘I don’t know. We’ll have to wait and see. But I’m determined to keep both feet on the ground.’
