This weekend, former Red Bull stalwart Jonathan Wheatley makes his debut as team boss at Sauber. With Audi’s takeover in mind, project leader Mattia Binotto wanted to strengthen the team with a proven Formula 1 veteran. The race weekend in Japan will be Wheatley’s first test with the team. Will a fresh wind blow through the Sauber garage, or will they end up at the bottom again in Suzuka?
“I have been able to get to know the employees in the factory in Hinwil recently,” Jonathan Wheatley responded in an official press release. “I can’t wait to join the team in Suzuka for my first race. I am also looking forward to getting started with our plans for the rest of the season and beyond.” Sauber consistently finished at the bottom last year, but has made a strong start to this Formula 1 season.
Baptism of Fire
“The first few races of the season have given us a good insight into where we stand as a team and where we need to improve,” Binotto added. “In both Melbourne and Shanghai, we saw that we can fight for points.” Nico Hülkenberg crossed the finish line seventh in Australia and scored more points than Sauber had achieved in all of 2024. “In China, we had more bad luck and things were a bit more difficult,” he continued. “That being said, it was still valuable to learn more about the car.”
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The debut of Jonathan Wheatley promises to be a baptism of fire, Binotto explained. “Suzuka is a circuit that requires precision and confidence – it will be crucial to get everything right from the start of the weekend. With a triple-header on the horizon, consistency is key. We need to seize every opportunity and continue to make progress. The team is working hard, both at the circuit and at the base in Hinwil, and we are fully focused on collective progress.”
Image caption: Sauber boss Mattia Binotto looks forward to the team leader debut of Jonathan Wheatley (Getty Images)
