Hülkenberg’s comments ahead of the Japanese GP confirmed what many had suspected: the relationship between the Briton and Binotto was terrible. The German didn’t talk about public clashes but left phrases that in the paddock were read as a tacit confession that things inside weren’t working.
Wheatley arrived at Sauber at the beginning of 2025 with the mission of preparing Audi’s arrival in Formula 1. He came from twenty years at Red Bull where he became a key piece of the team’s success. In his first season, he managed to steady the ship, scored 70 points and secured Nico Hülkenberg’s first podium in the category, in addition to the first for the structure since 2012. But Binotto’s arrival at the end of that year changed the dynamic, because the Italian didn’t come to be just another manager but to take the reins of a project that was supposed to be shared between the two.
The dual command structure never really worked and when a team has two heads thinking differently, clashes are inevitable. Binotto has a more technical profile but also a way of leading that already created friction at Ferrari before his departure, and Wheatley is not exactly one to sit back and stay quiet after having won everything at Red Bull. The coexistence lasted as long as it lasted, and the Briton’s exit just two races after Audi’s official debut ended up confirming that the project couldn’t handle having both of them.
Hülkenberg learned of the news from an article his mother sent him while he was in the simulator, an anecdote that speaks for itself about how the exit was handled. But what really matters is what he said afterward: “Obviously, there was a problem here. I don’t know the exact details. I haven’t talked much with him yet, but if there’s a problem, you also have to act and react.” The German didn’t want to get into controversy, but his phrase made it clear that something was going on inside that made Wheatley’s continuity unsustainable.
Audi now remains with Binotto as the sole leader, something the German brand insists won’t affect the team because the plans were already laid out and the structure is bigger than any individual. But losing a team principal with Wheatley’s experience after such a short time is no small thing, especially when the project is still taking its first steps and needs stability more than anything else.
The Briton, for his part, is already close to finalizing his arrival at Aston Martin, where he will reunite with Adrian Newey after two decades of working together at Red Bull. A move that many in the paddock interpret as a power play by Lawrence Stroll to bring order to a team that also has issues with both results and internal harmony.
In Formula 1, second acts aren’t always successful, but for Wheatley, the chance to work again with the person who knows him best could be the boost he needs after an exit that left open wounds.
The story between Binotto and Wheatley will go down as a brief but intense chapter in the modern era of F1. Two strong personalities who couldn’t find common ground. Time will tell who comes out on top from this battle, but what’s clear is that at Audi, power now rests with one person, and when that happens, those who leave usually have their reasons to tell.