Jonathan Wheatley | |
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Born | Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England | 7 May 1967
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Title | Sporting Director |
Jonathan Wheatley (born 7 May 1967) is a British motorsport executive and mechanic. Since 2018, Wheatley has served as sporting director of Red Bull Racing in Formula One; he previously served as chief mechanic of Benetton and Renault.
Wheatley has contributed to eight World Constructors' Championship titles between 1995 and 2023: one as a mechanic at Benetton (1995), one as chief mechanic of Renault (2005), four as a team manager at Red Bull (2010–2013), and two as sporting director of Red Bull (2022–2023).
Wheatley began his motorsport career at Benetton as a junior mechanic in the early 1990s. He rose through the ranks at the Enstone-based team to become the chief mechanic from 2001 until 2006 when he left to join Red Bull Racing. [1]
During his time in Enstone, the team won two World Constructors' Championship titles and 33 Grands Prix.
Wheatley's role at Red Bull included ensuring that the team operated within the FIA sporting regulations, and monitoring communication. He also supervised Red Bull's pit crew, who were widely regarded to be among the best in Formula One. [2] [ better source needed ]
Red Bull's pit crew broke the then-world record for fastest Formula One pit stop during the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix—servicing Max Verstappen's RB15 in a time of just 1.82 seconds—beating their previous world record of 1.88 seconds set less than four months prior at the 2019 German Grand Prix. [3] [4] [5] The record stood until the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, where it was beaten by McLaren with a time of 1.80 seconds. [6]
On 1 August 2024, Red Bull announced Wheatley's departure as Sporting Director at the end of the 2024 season to join Audi as their first Team Principal, following a period of gardening leave. [7]
During his time in Milton Keynes, Red Bull have won six World Constructors' Championship titles and 120 Grands Prix.
Wheatley will join Audi as their inaugural Team Principal ahead of their 2026 campaign. [7]
Renault, a French automobile manufacturer, has been associated with Formula One as both team owner and engine manufacturer for various periods since 1977. In 1977, the company entered Formula One as a constructor, introducing the turbo engine to Formula One with its EF1 engine. In 1983, Renault began supplying engines to other teams. Although the Renault team had won races, it withdrew at the end of 1985. Renault engines continued to be raced until 1986.
Red Bull Racing, currently competing as Oracle Red Bull Racing and also known simply as Red Bull or RBR, is a Formula One racing team, competing under an Austrian racing licence and based in the United Kingdom. It is one of two Formula One teams owned by conglomerate Red Bull GmbH, the other being RB Formula One Team. The Red Bull Racing team has been managed by Christian Horner since its formation in 2005.
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