Allan McNish on dramatic U-turn to take Audi F1 racing director role: 'Never say never'

Allan McNish, a three-time Le Mans winner and former World Endurance Champion, has made a dramatic U-turn by accepting the role of racing director for Audi's Formula 1 project – a position he once swore he would never hold. After retiring from racing in 2013 with a vow to avoid team management ("you'd have to deal with drivers like me, and I knew how difficult I was"), the 56-year-old Scot now calls his decision a "no-brainer". He was on the pit wall for the first time in Miami, having been involved with Audi's F1 project from the very beginning.

Why it matters:

McNish's appointment adds seasoned leadership to Audi's ambitious F1 entry, which faced organizational turbulence after Jonathan Wheatley resigned as team principal earlier this year. Mattia Binotto, initially appointed as head of the project, needed support – and turned to McNish, whose deep familiarity with the program ensures continuity and insider knowledge vital for Audi's competitiveness.

The details:

• After retirement, McNish made an earlier U-turn by becoming Audi's Formula E team principal, leading the team to a championship in its debut year until Audi exited the series in 2021.
• He maintained his longstanding links with Audi and was part of the F1 project in various roles from day one.
• When Binotto called him last month about the racing director role, McNish accepted immediately: "When I got a telephone call, and I then went to have a discussion, it was, 'Yes, 100 per cent' because I've lived it from day one. Why wouldn't I?"
• He now oversees race operations on grand prix weekends while continuing his driver development duties. Binotto provides support rather than being directly involved.
• McNish called Miami a "learning race" – understanding exactly how all parts fit together. He now has a clearer view and aims to progress forward.

What's next:

McNish will continue to learn and optimize race operations, helping Audi build a competitive structure. With his extensive experience and the team's first car already on track, Audi hopes to accelerate its development toward becoming a front-running contender in Formula 1.