Horner encouraged crucial Red Bull figure to join F1 rival

Christian Horner has detailed he encouraged Jonathan Wheatley to join the Audi F1 set-up as its team principal despite his importance to the Red Bull team.

Wheatley, who has long worked as the sporting director at Red Bull, announced last year he would join Audi as its team principal ahead of its arrival on the grid in 2026.

Wheatley will begin his new role on April 1 after being granted an earlier-than-planned start date following his exit from Red Bull.

The Briton has played crucial role in the Milton Keynes-based squad's success during its tenure in F1, with Horner backing his former ally to succeed in his new position.

“I’m sure he’ll be an asset to Sauber,” Horner exclusively told RacingNews365. “The definition of the team principal at every team is very different.

“It depends on what that role and function is. But it’s predominantly trackside. A lot will depend on the dynamic between himself and Mattia [Binotto].

“It’s something he has been ambitious for some time so when he got the opportunity, I encouraged him to take it.

“It gives opportunity to others here [at Red Bull] and is a good opportunity for him in his career. I encouraged him and fully supported him, saying ‘come on, go for it. You'll regret it if you don’t'.”

Horner reveals impact of key Red Bull exits

Wheatley was one of several Red Bull departures announced during the 2024 season, with Adrian Newey and Will Courtenay also exiting their positions within the set-up.

Despite the disruption to its core team, Horner outlined the rotation within the squad is healthy for it to remain a competitive force going forward.

“With Jonathan, already over the last few months, the roles have been redistributed and are being operated by different team members which is exciting for them because it gives them opportunity,” he said.

“In any organisation, if it remains stagnant, the water can go off. You have to have evolution within any organisation.

“If I look in our engineering office today and compare it to 2013, which is the last time we had four [consecutive] world championships, there are maybe three people in there who were there back in 2013.”

Red Bull's first blow of the season came when Newey confirmed his exit from the team, which eventually culminated in signing with Aston Martin.

Having been integral to Red Bull's success, Horner detailed the outfit navigated much of the season without Newey's presence, which did not stop it from winning a fourth title with Max Verstappen.

“Adrian, obviously that came very early in the season and the team has adapted,” Horner said. 

“Of course, he’s missed [within the team], he had played a tremendous role in the team during his time here.

“And whilst he doesn't officially leave the business until March and is still working behind the scenes on RB17 [hypercar], in F1, he checked out in Miami.”