Former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports analyst Martin Brundle believes empliying Jonathan Wheatley would be a “smart move” for Aston Martin, though he cautioned that the Silverstone outfit must stabilise its management structure.
Audi confirmed on 20 March that Wheatley had left his role as team principal with immediate effect due to personal reasons. While the 58-year-old is yet to confirm his next move, Motorsport understands that the Briton is set to join Aston Martin.
Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 Show, Brundle admitted that the move initially caught him off guard, despite hearing paddock whispers earlier in the season.
“They’ve had such a revolving door of management at Aston Martin, haven’t they? And some curious decisions I think they’ve taken about who does what and who’s in charge,” the former driver explained.
“Really curious, frankly, just observing it and knowing some of the people involved. I’m going to assume yes [Jonathan will move to Aston Martin]. Jonathan’s a mate, but he doesn’t want to talk at the moment because I’m sure he can’t.
“I don’t think he would have abandoned the Audi project and moving the family to Switzerland and all of that lightly. So let’s assume when they’ve got through the negotiations or the gardening leave or whatever’s involved here that he will end up at Aston Martin.
Jonathan Wheatley, Team Principal of Audi F1 Team
Photo by: Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
“Adrian Newey knows him incredibly well from the Red Bull days, of course. And I think Jonathan’s pragmatism and hands-on approach would glue some things together there. I think it would be a smart move.
“It’s not something I picked up on from him at all, but maybe moving back to the UK appeals to him and paying some tax,” he laughed. “But yeah, that’s a curious one. I didn’t see that one coming from Jonathan if I’m honest, although I was told twice in Melbourne that that was going to happen, actually.
“Jonathan would be a good catch for them. But they need to settle down and just stick with something. They look like a Premier League football team at the moment, just constantly changing who’s in charge. And then what happens then?
“Everybody just runs for cover in the team and keeps their heads down because they don’t know what’s happening next, who they report to, what the strategy is, or whatever. So it’s really a difficult situation for them all around.”
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– The Motorsport.com Team