What happened: Jonathan Wheatley has left his position as Team Principal of the Audi F1 team effective immediately. Mattia Binotto, previously involved with the team, will assume the Team Principal role and continue leading Audi. The official announcement came from Formula 1's account on March 20, 2026.
Why it matters: Audi struggles in eighth place in the constructors' standings with only 2 points after two races, making stability crucial for improvement. Wheatley's departure, amid rumors of a move to Aston Martin, introduces uncertainty that could affect strategy and driver performance.
By the numbers: Constructors' Standings after Round 2 (Chinese GP): 1. Mercedes: 98 pts 2. Ferrari: 67 pts 3. McLaren: 18 pts 4. Haas: 17 pts 5. Red Bull: 12 pts 6. Racing Bulls: 12 pts 7. Alpine: 10 pts 8. Audi: 2 pts (Bortoleto: 2 pts P14, Hülkenberg: 0 pts) 9. Williams: 2 pts 10. Cadillac: 0 pts 11. Aston Martin: 0 pts
What to watch: Watch Audi's preparations and any further statements for the Japanese Grand Prix on March 27-29. Monitor constructors' odds for adjustments.