Jonathan Wheatley is in the process of discussing his contract with Red Bull, as he is being considered for a team boss position with another organization.
With Red Bull sorting out the extensions of contracts of their leading personnel, Jonathan Wheatley is rumoured to be considering his future.
Jonathan Wheatley’s future as Red Bull’s sporting director is uncertain, following the confirmation of Adrian Newey’s departure as the team’s chief technical officer. Newey is set to leave both the team and Formula 1 by the middle of next season.
After joining Red Bull in 2006, the skilled mechanic who previously worked for Benetton and Renault swiftly climbed the ladder to attain the position of sporting director for the team.
Red Bull has set the standard for exceptional pit-stop performances under his supervision. The team, based in Milton Keynes, has achieved nine out of the top 10 fastest pit stops in the 2024 F1 season.
Wheatley is responsible for the pit crew’s efficient turnarounds and ensuring that the team always complies with the sporting regulations and other rulebooks.
However, Wheatley’s contract is currently expiring and it is understood that he is currently in talks with Red Bull regarding a new agreement, according to PlanetF1.com.
In recent months, Red Bull has extended the contracts of numerous key employees, securing their services for the long term.
Enrico Balbo, Red Bull’s aerodynamic chief, and Ben Waterhouse, head of performance engineering, both signed new contracts in December.
In February, Red Bull’s technical director Pierre Wache reaffirmed his commitment to the team, conclusively dismissing any speculations about his potential move to Ferrari in the near future.
However, Wheatley’s contract extension with Red Bull is still pending as he explores potential opportunities for a higher-ranking position with another team on the grid. It is anticipated that interest from other teams could enhance his financial value, giving him an advantage in negotiations with Red Bull.
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Jonathan Wheatley eyeing up team boss role away from Red Bull?
In the event that Christian Horner were to lose the support of Red Bull shareholders or if incriminating evidence were discovered during an internal investigation into his conduct as team boss, Wheatley had emerged as a potential candidate to replace him at Red Bull.
However, Horner’s continued presence and the trust of both groups of shareholders mean that Wheatley has reportedly entered into talks with two different teams in the racing grid, thought to be Alpine and Sauber.
Bruno Famin joined Alpine Motorsport as vice-president, initially serving as a temporary replacement for Otmar Szafnauer. However, he has continued in this role for the current season. Sauber, on the other hand, does not have a team boss but instead Alessandro Alunni Bravi acts as the team representative, while Andreas Seidl serves as the CEO of Sauber.
In order to attain the higher level of management he supposedly aspires to, Wheatley would have to depart from Milton Keynes as he has reached a point where he cannot progress any further within the Red Bull organization.
When questioned about the uncertainty surrounding Wheatley’s immediate future, Horner refrained from commenting on the status of negotiations.
“After the Miami Grand Prix,” he said, “there are rumors swirling about everyone.”
“We don’t typically discuss contracts and their terms and conditions with the public.”
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