Observers are questioning the stability of the Red Bull team. A leading publication described the situation with the question, "Is the Red Bull team falling apart?"
This followed the unexpected announcement that Jonathan Wheatley, the long-standing team manager and sporting director, will exit the Formula 1 team.
Red Bull Racing revealed that Wheatley, aged 57, is set to become the team principal "with the Audi F1 Project".
The timing of the announcement itself was a surprise to Audi-owned Sauber, which initially held back its confirmation. "Normally, communication about such changes is always coordinated by both sides," Auto Motor und Sport noted.
"Is the Red Bull team falling apart?" Auto Motor und Sport queried, after no statements came from Audi until the late afternoon.
Sky Deutschland agreed, remarking, "It was a strange announcement, as Audi initially did not want to comment, but then gave a detailed confirmation late in the afternoon."
Despite the surprise, veteran F1 journalist Roger Benoit was not taken aback. In Blick newspaper, he cited a comment made to him by Red Bull boss Christian Horner last Sunday at Spa: "I know that Jonathan wants to leave," Horner reportedly said.
"He is an expensive man and I can employ a few engineers for his salary."
Osterreich newspaper, however, headlined: "Red Bull's next guarantee of success leaves."
In Auto Bild, Bianca Garloff said speculation around Wheatley has been stirring for months. "Wheatley was considered a possible successor to Horner in the spring, at the height of the dispute surrounding the team boss."
Aston Martin's Mike Krack was recently linked with Wheatley's new role as team boss at Audi, as another new appointee - COO Mattia Binotto - was fairly openly searching for an operatational chief for the new project.
For now, Wheatley remains, with Red Bull specifying that he will be on "a period of gardening leave" in 2025. Audi anticipates Wheatley assuming his new role "at the latest from halfway in the 2025 season."
Horner shared on Thursday that Red Bull will promote internally to replace Wheatley, adding, "We will announce a new team structure in the coming weeks."
But while Audi may boast a formidable leadership pair with Binotto and Wheatley, the project appears to struggle in securing a teammate for Nico Hulkenberg for 2025.
Benoit mused that the Hinwil team might simply stick with Valtteri Bottas. "Bottas and Hulkenberg both have birthdays in August, so their combined age next year will be 72. Is that supposed to be the future of the ambitious Germans?"
