Audi promotes McNish to racing director in post-Wheatley reshuffle

Audi has appointed Allan McNish as its Formula 1 racing director, a key promotion designed to fill the operational void left by the sudden departure of former sporting director Jonathan Wheatley in March. Team project lead Mattia Binotto, who had assumed Wheatley's trackside duties, will now refocus on factory operations with McNish handling race weekend leadership.

Why it matters:

The move stabilizes Audi's senior management structure during a critical phase of its 2026 entry preparation. Having a dedicated, experienced figure like McNish overseeing all sporting and trackside operations allows Binotto to concentrate on the long-term technical project, addressing a clear weakness Binotto himself identified after taking on dual roles.

The details:

• McNish's new role, effective immediately, grants him broad oversight including race strategy, engineering coordination, driver management, and garage operations.
• He is a known entity within Audi, having achieved legendary sportscar success with the brand (including two Le Mans wins) and previously running its Formula E team.
• Binotto admitted in Japan that the team needed to reorganize to "fill all the gaps" Wheatley left, specifically noting the need for support at the track.
• "There is so much to be done back at the factory, and that's where I'm most focusing myself," Binotto stated, clarifying they were not seeking a new team principal but rather the "right support" structure.

What's next:

McNish's immediate task is to build and streamline the trackside operations for the fledgling F1 team. His appointment is a strategic step to ensure operational excellence from day one in 2026, allowing the technical and factory teams under Binotto to develop the car and power unit without distraction. This division of labor is crucial for Audi to arrive on the grid as a cohesive and competitive unit.