RacingOnly three races into its campaign and on the eve of Suzuka, Audi faces a leadership gap. Jonathan Wheatley has stepped down as team principal before the Japanese Grand Prix with no successor named, and Will Buxton says triple Le Mans winner Allan McNish is the ready-made in-house fix to steady the team while Mattia Binotto concentrates on the technical side.
Audi is in a transitional state as it builds toward a full 2026 entry. Wheatley’s exit leaves former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto overseeing operations on a temporary basis. The team has not announced a long-term plan, and the structure remains fluid heading into Suzuka, according to team communications.
Buxton laid out the case for an internal solution. “I think they need a successor to Jonathan Wheatley, and I think there is already someone within the team who can take on that role… there is someone who can build a structure that allows Mattia to focus on the technical side,” Will Buxton, the Netflix Drive to Survive commentator, said on the Speed podcast.
He then named his candidate. “For me, the best person for that role is already at Audi. That is Allan McNish,” Buxton said on the Speed podcast.
Buxton pointed to McNish’s résumé as the basis for a clean handover. McNish owns three overall Le Mans 24 Hours wins and previously ran Audi’s Formula E squad, taking a team that was not winning to title contention in short order. He now leads Audi’s young driver development program, which places him inside the current system and close to the next wave of talent. “He is already a member of the team and is leading the young driver development program. Therefore, he should be able to transition into that role smoothly… He is a highly respected figure, and there is a reason for that,” Buxton said on the Speed podcast.
The suggestion tracks with Audi’s immediate needs. According to the available indications in team communications and Buxton’s assessment, McNish has emerged as a leading internal candidate who aligns with the group’s short-term reality: maintain direction now, build structure for 2026, and create room for Binotto to prioritize the technical side.
None of this is confirmed policy. Audi has not announced its path or timing for a leadership appointment, and Binotto remains in temporary charge while the team navigates its first season in this setup. But with Suzuka arriving fast and the schedule relentless, Buxton’s argument centers on speed of integration. McNish knows the company, has led a racing outfit before, and, as Buxton framed it, could start tomorrow without slowing the push toward 2026.