F1 team boss recalls 'baptism of fire' after Red Bull exit

Stake F1 team principal Jonathan Wheatley has reflected on his first months in his new role following his exit from Red Bull.

Wheatley was long part of the Red Bull F1 squad and played an integral role in its championship-winning years with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.

The Briton rose to the position of sporting director of the Milton Keynes-based squad before announcing his exit from the team in August 2024.

Wheatley took up the role of Stake's team boss ahead of its transition to Audi in 2026 when new technical regulations will come into play.

The 58-year-old began working trackside with the team at the Japanese Grand Prix in April, which he detailed as commencing a hectic period.

“It was an unusual start to the season for me,” Wheatley exclusively told RacingNews365. “I spent most of my life wearing blue, the last 20 years wearing blue, and now I'm wearing black and green.

“I watched the first two races on my iPhone because I couldn't quite get the technology to work in my new apartment in Switzerland at the time.

“Then I walked in the door in April to this team, who I feel like I've had an association with since the beginning.

“I was there at the very first test of the Sauber F1 car. I have so many friends here in the team over the years.

“It felt odd, but oddly invigorating to walk into this new position. I would say that the team have welcomed me incredibly warmly. The reception has been brilliant.

“It’s been quite a journey, the first five months, nearly six months now, not least of all because I do every race, and I'm in the factory every day in between.

“The logistics associated with that first brutal batch of races, it was quite a baptism of fire.”

Jonathan Wheatley reveals 'three major career phone calls'

After finishing last in the standings in 2024 with four points to its name, Stake has taken a step forward this year with 55 points tallied up after 16 rounds.

Its highlight of the season came at the British Grand Prix, where Nico Hulkenberg grabbed the first podium of his career.

As a new era fast approaches for the Sauber-run team, Wheatley reiterated his desire to lift it even further up the pecking order.

“I’ve described myself before as largely unambitious on a personal level,” he said.

“I’ve always been hugely ambitious for the team that I work with, to make that team the strongest and the best team that it can be.

“My career has been a byproduct of that.” 

Detailing his exit from Red Bull, Wheatley stated the noise about an exit occurred early in the year before his departure was announced during the summer break.

“Three major stages in my career, I've had a phone call that changed my world and changed my outlook and changed the team that I work for,” he said.

“I think around about Miami last year, there was some news in the press that didn't come from me, that I was looking for different roles in F1, and that's really what put the energy behind the phone calls and the conversation subsequently with other teams.

“I find it quite surprising that somebody who started as a mechanic in 1991 is now a team principal of a modern F1 team.

“But honestly, I'm loving the job. I'm loving the role. This team feels like my team right the way through to the core already.”