Fresh speculation linking Jonathan Wheatley to a shock move from Audi to Aston Martin suggests that a major leadership shake-up could be brewing in Formula 1. Adrian Newey is at the centre of the storm, with his future as team principal increasingly under scrutiny after a disastrous start to the 2026 season.
Former Haas boss Guenther Steiner has now weighed in on the situation, offering insight into what could be one of the most significant management reshuffles in F1 history.
Steiner: “There’s something to it…”
In an interview with German TV channel RTL/ntv, Steiner made it clear that he believes the rumours have substance.
“I think there’s something to it. Naturally, I have my sources,” he explained. “It’s understandable that Aston Martin wants to take action after the start of this season.”
These comments were made shortly after the announcement that Wheatley was leaving his role at Audi with immediate effect for “personal reasons”. The timing has intensified speculation that Wheatley’s move to Aston Martin is already in motion behind the scenes.
While neither Aston Martin nor Audi have confirmed any agreement, the sequence of events has raised eyebrows across the paddock.
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The core issue: Is Newey spreading himself too thin?
At the heart of the situation is a fundamental question about Newey’s role. Widely regarded as one of the greatest technical minds in Formula 1 history, there were concerns about his appointment as team principal from the outset.
Steiner believes these concerns are now being realised.
“I think Adrian himself has realised that he needs someone to take over tasks in areas where he’s not an expert,” Steiner said.
“I don’t think he enjoys doing it either. He prefers technical work. He’s very good at that, as he’s proven.”
The implication is clear: Newey’s strengths lie in engineering and design, not the day-to-day management of a modern Formula 1 team.
With Aston Martin struggling on the track, Steiner argues that Newey must return to what he does best if the team is to recover.
“Now he needs to get back to the technical side to solve the car’s problems.”
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Why Wheatley makes sense
If Aston Martin are indeed preparing a leadership change, Wheatley emerges as a logical candidate.
Having previously worked within the Red Bull system alongside Newey, he understands the inner workings of a championship-winning organisation. This shared history could facilitate a smoother transition, particularly during a turbulent period.
Unlike Newey, Wheatley is a career team manager with experience in operations, structure and leadership under pressure. This is key to understanding why Aston Martin may see him as the missing piece.
Reports suggest that, although other names were considered, including Christian Horner, Wheatley is viewed internally as a better fit.
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Horner talks and Newey’s reported intervention
The intrigue deepened further with reports that Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll recently held talks with Horner about the team principal role.
However, according to multiple sources, Newey himself intervened to block the move.
The two worked together for nearly two decades at Red Bull, during which time the team enjoyed immense success. Nevertheless, despite their shared history, Newey is believed to have opposed Horner’s appointment.
Instead, Wheatley has emerged as an “acceptable alternative”, a figure who combines familiarity with a less complicated internal dynamic.
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A team in crisis: TJ13 sources reveal internal concerns
All of this is unfolding against the backdrop of a deeply disappointing start to the 2026 season for Aston Martin.
Expectations were high following Newey’s arrival and the team’s ambitious long-term project, particularly given their works partnership with Honda. However, performance has fallen well short.
Crucially, sources close to this website at the Aston Martin factory in Silverstone have revealed a worrying picture of the situation behind the scenes. According to these insiders, there is a growing sense of disillusionment among staff, with mounting concerns over leadership, direction and internal structure, just weeks into the campaign.
These sources also suggest that Newey has been increasingly absent from the day-to-day factory environment, raising questions about the effectiveness of the team’s management during this critical phase of development.
From a competitive standpoint, the issues appear to be organisational and technical in nature, precisely the kind of scenario that demands clarity of leadership.
“A misappointment”: harsh criticism emerges
Some voices within the F1 media have been even more blunt in their assessment of Newey’s time as team principal.
One striking comparison likened the situation to ‘making Pablo Picasso prime minister’ — a metaphor highlighting the mismatch between Newey’s creative brilliance and the structured demands of team management.
While extreme, this criticism reflects a growing consensus. Newey’s talents may have been misapplied in a role that does not maximise his strengths.
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No quick fix for Aston Martin
Even if Wheatley does arrive, Steiner has warned fans against expecting immediate results.
‘Things won’t improve for Aston Martin in the next two or three races just because Jonathan Wheatley is joining,’ he said. ‘It will take a few months, if not a year, before we really see any change.’
This reflects the complexity of modern Formula 1 teams, where structural changes take time to affect on-track performance.
In other words, a leadership change may be necessary, but it won’t solve all the problems overnight.
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What happens to Audi?
Interestingly, Steiner does not believe that Wheatley’s departure would significantly harm Audi’s Formula 1 project.
“I don’t think there will be any problems at Audi when Jonathan leaves. Not much will change at Audi,” he stated.
This suggests that Audi has built sufficient depth within its organisation to absorb such a loss, even as it prepares for its full factory entry into the sport.
Official silence… for now
For now, both Aston Martin and Audi are maintaining a firm public stance.
Aston Martin has reiterated that Newey ‘continues to lead the team as team principal and chief technical partner’, while Audi has declined to comment on speculation altogether.
Yet in Formula 1, silence often speaks volumes.
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A defining moment for Aston Martin
Whether or not the move materialises, the current situation represents a pivotal moment for Aston Martin.
The team has invested heavily in its future, assembling elite talent and infrastructure in a bid to compete at the top level. However, the early results of the 2026 season have exposed weaknesses that cannot be ignored.
If Steiner’s assessment is correct, recalibrating roles rather than carrying out a complete overhaul could be the solution. This would allow Newey to focus purely on technical development, while an experienced operator like Wheatley could take on the role of team principal, offering the balance that Aston Martin desperately needs.
For now, the paddock waits. However, with mounting pressure and high expectations, this story looks far from over.
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Two race weekends down and the all new Formula One 2026 regulations have indeed had the biggest impact on the sport since its inception. As happened last time the engine rules were radically changed in 2014, it is Mercedes who have turned out on top. That said, Ferrari too have done a decent job as they sit second behind the silver arrows in the constructors’ championship.
For the rest of the field, the picture is not so rosy. If we tot up the points scored by the other nine constructors they total just four more than the Scuderia have accumulated across two races weekends.
Of course, it was expected there would be big winners and losers but presently the championships look to be a race between Ferrari and Mercedes, with the latter looking the stronger of the two.
FIA pause rule changes before Japan
The Sprint weekend in China happens to have settled some of the nerves up and down the paddock, as the expected emergency rule changes before Japan in less than two weeks time have been put on hold. Concerns remain that the disparity of performance between a car out of electrical power and one using its electrical boost systems are creating huge speed differentials which could result in a massive accident.
Then there’s the unwanted spectacle of drivers ‘going slow, to go fast’ in qualifying and the much criticised need to ‘lift and coast’ when in previous generations the cars would be flat out approaching a corner.
Unsurprisingly, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff believes on the whole the new regulations are working well, but given his drivers have won all three races to date, why would he say otherwise? “Qualifying flat-out would be nice. But when you look at the fans and the…CONTINUE READING THIS STORY
Craig.J. Alderson is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Craig oversees newsroom operations and coordinates editorial output across the site. With a background in online sports reporting and motorsport magazine editing, he plays a key role in maintaining consistency, speed, and accuracy in TJ13’s coverage.
During race weekends, Craig acts as desk lead, directing contributors, prioritising breaking stories, and ensuring timely publication across a fast-moving news cycle.
Craig’s work focuses heavily on real-time developments in the paddock, including team updates, regulatory decisions, and emerging controversies. This role requires a detailed understanding of Formula 1’s operational flow, from practice sessions through to race-day strategy and post-race fallout.
With experience managing editorial teams, Craig ensures that TJ13 delivers structured, reliable coverage while maintaining the site’s distinctive voice.
Craig has a particular interest in how information moves within the paddock environment, and how rapidly developing stories can be accurately translated into clear, accessible reporting for readers.
IF Newey is the genius everyone still claims him to be, HOW COME the Aston Martin is SO bad?!
Anyone considered he’s had his day? And MAYBE that’s why he doesn’t wish to work with Horner again … because I can’t see Horner keeping quiet about that.
Shame if Stroll has taken notice of Newey with regard to the Team Principal appointment … he’ll have to hope THAT doesn’t come back to bite him! I think it might just do so …