The Official F1 2026 silly season *contains speculation*

[Big Nanas]

Audi have officially confirmed that Wheatley will leave with immediate effect for 'personal reasons', and Binotto will take over responsibilities.

Well well.

[J210]

I assume Wheatley is currently at home throwing around large chunks of Canadian dollars

[WPA]

Big Nanas said:

Audi have officially confirmed that Wheatley will leave with immediate effect for 'personal reasons', and Binotto will take over responsibilities.

Well well.

So how does that work then, no gardening leave and just able to walk away, poor show from JW

[thegreenhell]

WPA said:

So how does that work then, no gardening leave and just able to walk away, poor show from JW

There will almost certainly be a period of gardening leave.

[Mark-C]

thegreenhell said:

WPA said:

So how does that work then, no gardening leave and just able to walk away, poor show from JW

There will almost certainly be a period of gardening leave.

Still being sorted out according to the BBC but it doesn't seem like Audi were very bothered about keeping him ...

[WestyCarl]

Mark-C said:

thegreenhell said:

WPA said:

So how does that work then, no gardening leave and just able to walk away, poor show from JW

There will almost certainly be a period of gardening leave.

Still being sorted out according to the BBC but it doesn't seem like Audi were very bothered about keeping him ...

When someone decides to leave there's very little point in keeping them (especially if it is personal reasons)

[Big Nanas]

Stroll's AM statement:



Last sentence is quite pointed, but honestly, nothing says "we dont discuss rumours and speculation" than a long statement like this

[Arrivalist]

And it’s confirmed by Audi. He’s off to AM.

[Megaflow]

braddo said:

Megaflow said:

I can't believe the rumor that Wheatley is going to move straight from Audi to Aston Martin without any period of gardening leave.

Maybe there's a probation clause or something similar?

Oooo, interesting point, hadn’t looked at it that way.

Big Nanas said:

Audi have officially confirmed that Wheatley will leave with immediate effect for 'personal reasons', and Binotto will take over responsibilities.

Well well.

My post above aged badly didn’t it…

[Milkyway]

AM has certainly accrued a lot of experienced people.
(Hopefully they can turn this mess around).

Wheatley
Newey
Alonso
Button

[DanielSan]

Milkyway said:

AM has certainly accrued a lot of experienced people.
(Hopefully they can turn this mess around).

Wheatley
Newey
Alonso
Button

Button is an ambassadorial role, he'll have as much to do with the car as he did in the same role at Williams.

[Milkyway]

DanielSan said:

Milkyway said:

AM has certainly accrued a lot of experienced people.
(Hopefully they can turn this mess around).

Wheatley
Newey
Alonso
Button

Button is an ambassadorial role, he'll have as much to do with the car as he did in the same role at Williams.

True.... But still a good name to have on the books.

[Big Nanas]

Milkyway said:

DanielSan said:

Milkyway said:

AM has certainly accrued a lot of experienced people.
(Hopefully they can turn this mess around).

Wheatley
Newey
Alonso
Button

Button is an ambassadorial role, he'll have as much to do with the car as he did in the same role at Williams.

True.... But still a good name to have on the books.

Interesting one, Jenson. I've no idea how much time he's contracted to, but surely his 'compensation' wouldn't be coming from the budget cap, would it? I guess his would come under marketing (which I'm not even sure comes under eh budget cap)

[vaud]

Button doesn't race anymore, and his experience is seriously dated for F1 for anything meaningful.

Good guy to entertain sponsors, etc and probably to mentor drivers that need it. So obviously not Alonso. And not Stroll, for different reasons...

[thegreenhell]

vaud said:

Button doesn't race anymore, and his experience is seriously dated for F1 for anything meaningful.

Good guy to entertain sponsors, etc and probably to mentor drivers that need it. So obviously not Alonso. And not Stroll, for different reasons...

I wonder if he's going to be racing an Aston at Goodwood this year. His Jag C type that he won with last year is currently up for sale.

[snotrag]

vaud said:

Button doesn't race anymore, and his experience is seriously dated for F1 for anything meaningful.

Good guy to entertain sponsors, etc and probably to mentor drivers that need it. So obviously not Alonso. And not Stroll, for different reasons...

I'd say it's more likely that Jenson will agree to doing the TV / social media / new car launch type stuff that Fernando tells them to stick up their arse!

[TheDeuce]

snotrag said:

vaud said:

Button doesn't race anymore, and his experience is seriously dated for F1 for anything meaningful.

Good guy to entertain sponsors, etc and probably to mentor drivers that need it. So obviously not Alonso. And not Stroll, for different reasons...

I'd say it's more likely that Jenson will agree to doing the TV / social media / new car launch type stuff that Fernando tells them to stick up their arse!

An active F1 driver just wants to drive, they hate the media stuff.

A retired F1 driver that misses the sport does all the media stuff they can, to remain relevant. They're the minority though, most just shuffle off into a lesser series and then disappear from the conversation altogether.

Occasionally you get a God such as Lauda who is retired, does no media stuff and remains genuinely valuable to the sport - but that's as rare as unicorn droppings.

[vaud]

WPA said:

So how does that work then, no gardening leave and just able to walk away, poor show from JW

It didnt say that. It said he left with immediate effect. Nothing about the gap to next employment.

[entropy]

TheDeuce said:

Occasionally you get a God such as Lauda who is retired, does no media stuff and remains genuinely valuable to the sport - but that's as rare as unicorn droppings.

Lauda was a pundit for German TV channel RTL and he was also technical advisor to Ferrari in the 90s.

[hondajack85]

Dunno why there is shock and stuff about the Wheatley thing. He probably saw he was duplicating Binotto in everything.
While it looks good in a holiday brochure ,spending all your time in Switzerland is not for everyone as you leave a well established life behind in the uk. Who is to say Audi,Binotto and the swizz didn't prefer their own company.