Binotto Keeps Team Principal Role, Downplays Wheatley's Stint

0:00On April 2nd, Matia Benado, Audi's head of the Formula One project, just shut down talk of replacing Jonathan Wheatley as team principal. Less than 12 months into the gig, Benado says he's keeping the role himself, but needs a support person for race weekends since he'll focus on. Factory transformations Wheatley stepped away for personal reasons right before the Japanese Grand Prix, sparking pitches for big names like Alan McNish, the Le Mans winner. Who ran Audi's Formula E team? But Benado's got it covered, acting like the track side stand-in isn't a full upgrade. Wheatley spent 20 years at Red Bull under Christian Horner, handling everything, and saw Audi as his big step up. Turns out, he was more like Benado's on-site rep, not the top dog, which didn't sit right with someone as competitive as him. Remember how he influenced that wild Abu Dhabi finish in 2021. After the Japanese race, Benado praised the team's focus and operations, adding he's not worried about the future because of any one person.

1:01Sounds like he's downplaying Wheatley's short stint. Word is Wheatley's heading to Aston Martin, after Gardening leave, fitting his drive for a real leadership spot. Audi's reshaping fast, and this shows their unique take on running the show. From your team, powered by AI, this is F1 News today. I'm Corey with The Story.