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Bernie Collins discussed how Jonathan Wheatley’s decision to leave Audi could have a ‘detrimental’ impact.
Ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, it had been revealed by Audi that Jonathan Wheatley was set to depart from his team principal role at the team with immediate effect.
Mattia Binotto was immediately promoted to the team principal role for the remainder of the 2026 season and will oversee the development of Audi’s Formula 1 effort on his own after working alongside Wheatley since 2025.
It is expected that Wheatley will end up moving to Aston Martin to replace Adrian Newey as team principal, but the impact of his departure for Audi has been neglected amid the rumours that he will be moving to Silverstone.
Audi confirm Jonathan Wheatley’s exit – Who should take over as their team principal?
Audi may lose their way after Jonathan Wheatley’s departure
After Friday Practice at the Japanese Grand Prix, Bernie Collins discussed Wheatley’s departure from Audi on Sky Sports.
She admitted that Wheatley’s departure from Audi this early on in the season and in the regulations will have a ‘really detrimental’ impact on the team for the remainder of the season.
Collins said, “A lot of it will depend on the decisions that have been made before, and then you sort of lose your way a little bit depending on who takes over and what decisions are being made.
“Often, the next person wants to make their mark, so decisions change. So, suddenly you are going in one route of development or direction, and employing people, or whatever the case may be, setting up the group. Then it changes when the new person, whoever it is, joins.
“So, I think that will be the most difficult bit, there will be this period of uncertainty, and potentially a new direction, which will feel like wasted effort, and at the moment with the catching up that the teams have to do, any wasted effort is really, really detrimental.”
Is Jonathan Wheatley the right man to get Aston Martin back on track in 2026?
What was your immediate reaction to the news? Let us know in the comments below!
Jonathan Wheatley could be the man to turn around Aston Martin
In a report, it had been revealed that Adrian Newey never wanted to be promoted to the team principal role for the 2026 Formula 1 season after Andy Cowell stood down from the role.
According to the same report, Newey has been acting as team principal in a caretaker role, whilst the team searched for a suitable replacement, which appears to be Wheatley.
Aston Martin have struggled with several issues in the early stages of the 2026 season, most notably a vibration issue from their Honda power unit that has hindered any further development.
David Coulthard believes that Wheatley is the man for the Aston Martin job as he is a ‘fighter’, Coulthard said, “I know he is a fighter. He will do what he needs to do with a sporting ethic, and I am a big fan, I would have him in my team any day!”
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