Audi address sudden Jonathan Wheatley departure with defiant statement

Audi has sent a strong message upon announcing that team principal Jonathan Wheatley will leave his post with immediate effect.

The Briton is departing due to personal reasons and is being closely linked with the same position at Aston Martin, with Adrian Newey believed to be conducting his own search for his successor.

The Silverstone-based squad has, however, refused to engage in the current media speculation.

Wheatley took over at the helm of the fledgling Audi F1 project last April when his Red Bull gardening leave ended, helping steer the former Sauber outfit through its final season in F1 before transitioning to the German marque's works team.

It was a successful first campaign alongside CEO Mattia Binotto, who will assume team principal responsibilities, with Stake, as the team was known, reaching the podium at the British Grand Prix — a popular result as Nico Hulkenberg secured his first visit to an F1 rostrum.

However, despite a strong start to the campaign, after Gabriel Bortoleto picked up two points in Audi's F1 debut, Wheatley has stepped away from the role.

Gernot Döllner, CEO of AUDI AG and chairman of the board of management of Audi Motorsport AG, said: "We are grateful to Jonathan Wheatley for his contribution to the project during the crucial entry phase and wish him all the best for the future.

"Mattia Binotto and the team will continue to pursue the path we have chosen with determination."

Although the situation developed quickly over the past 24 hours, Audi remains committed to its goal of fighting for titles in F1 by the end of the decade.

"Our focus remains unchanged: We are concentrating all our efforts on building a team competing at the highest level that will challenge for world championships in Formula 1 by 2030," Döllner added.

"We will continuously develop our organisational structures to achieve our shared goal in a sustainable manner."