Audi to announce major management overhaul and appointment of racing director

Audi is poised to announce a management restructure, including the appointment of a racing director, according to RacingNews365 sources.

It is understood Audi is to confirm the changes ahead of the Miami Grand Prix at the start of May, potentially as early as before this weekend.

Following the abrupt departure of Jonathan Wheatley from the role of team principal in late March for "personal reasons", Mattia Binotto, the head of Audi's F1 project, took on the additional responsibilities.

During the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, however, Binotto indicated he would require additional support, primarily during race weekends, which has resulted in Audi opting to create the role of racing director.

It is understood that Audi scoured the market to fill the position, but has ultimately opted to appoint internally.

Sporting director Iñaki Rueda is believed to have been considered, primarily due to his longstanding professional relationship with Binotto. The two previously worked together at Ferrari, where the Spaniard served as head of strategy and sporting matters.

According to sources, however, Audi is poised to appoint three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Allan McNish to the role. The 56-year-old Scot, who was previously team principal of Audi's Formula E Team, currently serves as head of the driver development programme for the 'Four Rings' brand.

Asked for comment by RacingNews365, an Audi spokesperson stated: “We don’t comment on speculation."

Given his history with Audi, McNish is seen as a reliable figure, one who has an excellent relationship with the car manufacturer’s leading figures.

McNish's role will include managing the team's racing operations, coordinating race weekends, and working prominently in the team’s media activities. 

The appointment is the conclusion of numerous leadership changes over the years since Audi announced at the 2022 Belgian Grand Prix it would be entering F1 as a factory team with its own powertrain.

Following the acquisition of Sauber, the project was initially led by Andreas Seidl, who was recruited from McLaren, alongside Oliver Hoffmann. Both, however, departed under turbulent circumstances in the summer of 2024.

Binotto arrived first as CEO, followed by Wheatley, only for the latter to depart after less than a year in his role.

Due to the repeated leadership shifts, there has been significant scepticism around this season's debut of a team whose driver line-up boasts the experienced Nico Hülkenberg alongside F2 and F3 champion Gabriel Bortoleto.

The first three races have, however, shown that those doubts were totally unfounded, albeit with Audi failing to score the points it may have felt it deserved. At present, it stands eighth in the constructors' championship with two points.