Jun 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Kick Sauber driver Nico Hulkenberg (27) during the F1 Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

formula-1

“I’m Going to Be the Happiest Team Principal in F1”- Jonathan Wheatley Remarks About Sauber’s Future!

Jonathan Wheatley gives an idea about the upcoming plans for Sauber and his reasoning for joining the team.

Jun 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Kick Sauber driver Nico Hulkenberg (27) during the F1 Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Jonathan Wheatley is having a great break after one of the best weekends for his team in Formula 1. Under his leadership, the team won their first podium after 12 years. Nico Hulkenberg drove at his absolute best to take the car from P19 on the grid to P3 at the end of the race. It marks a major achievement for Kick Sauber who are going to face yet another ownership change soon.

Jonathan Wheatley is going to lead the team after their transition to Audi Formula 1 in 2026. So far Wheatley has been doing a well enough having taken over the reigns of the team in Japan. He has managed to claim points with both of his drivers. Sauber seem to be making a lot of progress in the current season compared to their measly campaign in the previous year.

Jonathan Wheatley Talks About His Expectations for the Upcoming Season

At the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Jonathan Wheatley was approached about the state of his team in the Formula 1 championship. Wheatley is no stranger to racing at the top level of Formula 1. He was with Red Bull Racing until the 2024 season as their Sporting Director. Jonathan Wheatley made a big jump in the current F1 season after leaving the Bulls.

For Wheatley, it was not a simple decision to make. He was already working with one of the best teams in the history of Formula 1. To leave Red Bull Racing and join a team that was clearly struggling at the bottom of the table was a daunting task. However, for Wheatley, it was this challenge which lured him away from Red Bull Racing.

🗣️ "Very soon I'm going to have four rings on a shirt, and I'm going to be the happiest team principal in F1"

Team boss Jonathan Wheatley plots out how Sauber aims to use impetus from Nico Hulkenberg's British GP podium for its Audi transition ⬇️https://t.co/ZOhqNcZeaE
— Motorsport.com (@Motorsport) July 13, 2025

His decision to join Sauber was based off of his admiration for Audi and their achievements in other motorsport competitions. Jonathan fondly remembers the Quattros winning rally racing championships making a name for themselves.

“We have to be humble about the challenge that we face. It’s going to be tough to get to the same level as the established teams, and to smash through that level requires a level of momentum. But I firmly believe we’re going to be there. We’re on the road already. We’ve put ourselves in a position where we were able to capitalise on some wet-weather situations. Very soon I’m going to have four rings on a shirt, and I’m going to be the happiest team principal in F1.”

Jonathan Wheatley’s optimism and Sauber’s recent developments in the 2025 championship are a step forward for their future plans. If the team continues to grow in this manner, they might actually make a leap towards success with the regulation changes.

Audi Formula 1

Formula 1

Jonathan Wheatley

Kick Sauber F1

Rohan Singh

nhl

I work as a Writer at The Playoffs specialising in NHL, Formula 1 and Motorsports. I got into online journalism a couple of years ago. I used to be an intern for a website managing their Formula 1 content and then I served an entire year as a contractual writer.