Image Credits: Sauber's Official X

Who Is Sauber’s New Team Principal in 2025? Sauber Motorsports 2025 New Team Principal

Sauber have acquired a key figure from one of the top teams of the grid to lead them in 2025.

Image Credits: Sauber's Official X

Formula 1 team, Kick Sauber have refreshed their driver lineup for the 2025 season. They have incorporated Nico Hulkenberg and rookie, Gabriel Bortoleto in their team for the latest season. Sauber is on the cusp of being taken over by Audi. The German team will handle Sauber’s operations from the 2026 Formula 1 season. The team has also included former team principal of Ferrari, Mattia Binotto. The 2026 Formula 1 season is going to bring a big change in Sauber’s fate in Formula 1.

Sauber had been operating under the leadership of Mattia Binotto who joined the team as their Chief of Technical Operations in 2024. The team let go of their drivers Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas. They managed to secure merely four points in the 2024 driver’s championship. While Valtteri Bottas has rejoined Mercedes as reserve driver. Guanyu will be serving as the reserve driver for Ferrari in 2025. As per the latest reports, Formula 1 and Sauber have confirmed their team principal for 2025.

Sauber’s Team Principal in 2025

Jonathan Wheatley is going to serve as the Team Principal for Sauber in the 2025 Formula 1 season. He is going to debut as the principal for Sauber from the Japanese Grand Prix. Jonathan Wheatley is a well-known person in Formula 1. He was previously employed as a Sporting Director at Red Bull. Wheatley left his role at Red Bull in 2024. Jonathan Wheatley and Mattia Binotto are going to report to Gernot Döllner, Chairman of Board of Sporting Directors.

BREAKING: Former Red Bull Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley will begin as Kick Sauber Team Principal from April 1#F1 pic.twitter.com/ElrivsIMqu
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 12, 2025

Jonathan Wheatley started his career in Formula 1 at Benetton in the 1990s. He served as the Chief Mechanic for the team until 2006. Wheatley joined Red Bull in 2006 as their Sporting Director. He worked with Red Bull for 18 years during which he achieved- six constructor championships and seven driver championships.

According to Wheatley, his reason for joining Sauber was the prospect of heading Audi’s progress into Formula 1 from the 2026 season. He was also delighted to work with Binotto citing the fact that he had known him for years.

Jonathan Wheatley's first race as Team Principal will be the Japanese Grand Prix 🇯🇵

All the details ⬇️https://t.co/3IVzCSYyUq
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 12, 2025

Sauber are going through an intense metamorphosis but do you think these changes are going to be enough to bring the team to the front of the grid. They may hand over the reins to Audi but will Audi manage to overturn Sauber’s pitiful condition in 2026. What are your thoughts about Sauber’s new lineup and leadership changes?

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Formula 1 2025 Season

Jonathan Wheatley

Kick Sauber F1

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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.