Adrian Newey is stepping down from his team principal position at the Aston Martin Formula 1 team, with current Audi team boss Jonathan Wheatley set to replace him. Newey’s decision to focus exclusively on technical matters is a response to Aston Martin’s lackluster performance in the 2026 F1 season due to power unit issues with Honda. Wheatley, who has been with Audi for 10 months, will now return to England pending the completion of his Audi contract.
Located just 20 miles from Red Bull’s F1 headquarters, Wheatley spent two decades of his career there. Joining Aston Martin at a challenging time, he will bring his experience, having dealt directly with the board at Audi but lacking the same authority as a team principal. The move to Aston Martin might have been influenced by Newey, with whom Wheatley worked for many years at Red Bull.
Newey’s appointment as team principal was short-lived, making way for Wheatley amidst the current crisis. The question now is whether Audi will seek a new team principal externally or opt for internal restructuring or promotion. This transition could reshape the future direction of Aston Martin in Formula 1.
