‘We’re disruptors’: Wheatley on achieving Audi’s F1 ambitions

©Sauber

40

Sauber team principal Jonathan Wheatley has made clear that the soon-to-be Audi works F1 outfit cannot reach its lofty ambitions in the sport by playing “the normal game”. Instead, it must “disrupt” the established order.

This isn’t just bravado from a team whose cars finished a lackluster 17th and 20th in Singapore. The Hinwil-based squad, which has been on the grid since 1993 but only has a single win to its name, is dreaming big.

With the Audi banner looming, the team is eyeing race wins and championships “by the end of the decade”. It’s a lofty goal for a squad that’s spent recent years in the lower tier of F1’s midfield.

But with heavy hitters like Wheatley, formerly Red Bull’s Sporting Director, and ex-Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto steering the ship, Sauber’s got the firepower to back its ambitions.

“I think we’re on track,” Wheatley told Reuters in Singapore. “Fortunately for me, Mattia has been here for a lot longer … so things are already in place and starting to move forwards.”

The roadmap? Nothing short of audacious.

“Look, it’s an ambitious roadmap we have ahead of us. Our intention is to be competing for race wins and championships at the end of the decade, and we’ve got an aggressive path to get us there,” the Briton added.

A New Era Beckons

Wheatley believes the incoming 2026 regulations – introducing radical changes to both engines and chassis – could be a once-in-a-generation reset for the sport. But the Sauber team boss is brimming with anticipation.

“It’s a hugely exciting set of technical regulations, a very, very challenging set … and when you do that, there’s a chance you can break up the order,” he said.

©Sauber

“The three pillars of Audi’s involvement are highly efficient engines, fully sustainable fuels and advanced hybrid technology, and that’s what’s being introduced next year.

“We’re quite excited about what’s happening next year, to bring together chassis and powertrain for the first time, fire up an Audi Formula 1 car for the very first time.”

Patience, Progress and Pit Lane Lessons

Despite the fanfare, Wheatley isn’t underestimating the challenge of transforming a team that’s spent much of the past decade simply trying to survive. The man who helped Red Bull redefine pit-stop precision says he’s been careful not to bulldoze in with new ideas.

“I was keeping my eyes and ears open and using my mouth in proportion to those two early on,” he recalled with a smile.

“If you bring too many new ideas, too many new philosophies, try to change too much, it’s a delicate balance racing …

“A race team’s like a family. There’s times when you sort of rub up against each other, there’s times when everything goes smoothly. I guess my experience tells me when the right time is to do something.”

Sauber’s steady climb has already yielded small but symbolic victories – none bigger than Nico Hülkenberg’s long-awaited podium at Silverstone, his first in 239 Formula 1 starts. And Wheatley wants that fighting spirit to define the team’s final stretch before the Audi era begins.

“We’re in a proper fist fight every weekend … therefore you can’t drop the ball,” he said.

“What I’m looking for is continuous improvement. I’m looking for us to be constantly looking at how can we improve it. How do we consistently make the right decisions in high pressure situations.”

“We’re disruptors”

For Wheatley, success won’t come from mimicking the established giants – it will come from outthinking them and rewriting the playbook.

“The teams we’re competing against have strength and depth in every area. We’re challenging Ferrari, we’re challenging Red Bull, McLaren, Mercedes,” he said.

“We’re disruptors. We have to be, we’re not going to get to where we want to be by just playing a normal game. We have to do things differently.”