Audi appoints Le Mans legend Allan McNish as F1 Racing Director

Audi has appointed three-time Le Mans winner and former Toyota F1 driver Allan McNish to the newly-created role of Racing Director, effective immediately. He will report to project head Mattia Binotto and be responsible for coordinating all trackside operations, including race strategy and engineering, while continuing to lead the team's driver development program.

Why it matters:

This move strengthens Audi's trackside leadership at a critical phase as the German manufacturer prepares for its highly anticipated factory entry into Formula 1 in 2026. McNish brings a rare blend of top-level driving experience, championship-winning team management from Audi's Formula E program, and deep institutional knowledge, which will be vital for building a competitive operation from the ground up.

The details:

• The appointment fills a key leadership gap identified by Mattia Binotto after Jonathan Wheatley's departure as team principal, with Binotto stating he needed a senior figure to work alongside him.
• McNish's role will have a wide-ranging remit, encompassing oversight of sporting matters, engineering coordination, driver management, race strategy, garage operations, and on-track media and partner activities.
• He is not a new face to the project, having already been involved as the head of Audi's driver development program and playing a key role in establishing technical partnerships.
• His proven track record includes guiding the Audi Formula E team to the 2017/18 teams' championship as team principal, demonstrating his capability in a managerial capacity.

What's next:

McNish's immediate focus will be on implementing the operational building blocks for success ahead of Audi's 2026 debut. His integration into the trackside hierarchy, working under Binotto's direction, will be crucial for streamlining development and ensuring the team hits the ground running. This appointment signals Audi's serious intent to be competitive from the outset, leveraging experienced motorsport minds to navigate the complexities of a new F1 project.