Allan McNish felt Miami pressure in Audi debut

Audi race director Allan McNish said his first Formula 1 weekend with the team in Miami was among the most nerve-racking moments of his career, even as Mattia Binotto judged him an immediate fit on the pit wall after Jonathan Wheatley’s exit.

McNish stepped into the role at the Miami Grand Prix, the fourth round of the 2026 season, after Wheatley’s abrupt departure from Audi’s leadership. Binotto said he chose the former driver to support him in running the team trackside, and after one event he was already convinced the appointment had worked.

Speaking to media in Miami, Audi F1 project chief Mattia Binotto said McNish was "an easy decision and a great fit" because he "knows Audi very well," understands racing and "the drivers’ language," and also knows life on the pit wall from his previous management experience. Binotto added that McNish’s first morning in the role had already shown how naturally he fit into the organization.

For McNish, the debut carried pressure well beyond race operations. He told GRANDE PRÊMIO that it was "one of the moments of biggest nervousness" of his career, saying Miami was "the biggest team event in terms of marketing and communication" and required him to cover "many areas beyond race operation." He said that added to the strain and left him needing to "try to balance everything better."

The weekend itself did little to ease the transition. Audi ran into problems through the Miami event, which Binotto described as a baptism of fire for McNish’s first outing. Even so, Binotto said he saw him "at the pit wall with a smile" during a messy session and called it "a good start."

That mattered because McNish’s role is set to extend beyond a one-off stand-in appearance. Binotto said he can "fully trust" him as race director and made clear McNish will represent Audi at the track when he is not present himself.

The appointment comes with Audi still trying to turn its first season into points. After four rounds, the team sat eighth in the constructors’ championship with two points. Gabriel Bortoleto was 15th in the drivers’ standings with those same two points, while Nico Hülkenberg was 18th and still without a points finish in 2026.