Aston Martin’s unconvincing response to growing Jonathan Wheatley F1 rumours

Aston Martin Formula 1 ambassador Pedro de la Rosa says Jonathan Wheatley is not joining the team “for the time being” in what marks a first public acknowledgment of the growing speculation.

Wheatley left Audi with immediate effect last Friday after it emerged the 58-year-old Briton had been approached by Aston Martin to become its new team principal, with Adrian Newey set to return his focus to car development.

At the time, Aston Martin refused to be drawn on rumours linking Wheatley with the team following his shock Audi exit.

“We are regularly approached by senior executives of other teams who wish to join Aston Martin Aramco, but in keeping with our policy, we do not comment on rumour and speculation,” Aston Martin said in a statement released just 15 minutes after news of Wheatley’s departure broke.

But Aston Martin has seemingly changed tack on its previous approach, after de la Rosa (rather unconvincingly) addressing a barrage of questions on the matter from Sky Sports F1 at the Japanese Grand Prix.

“Well, at the moment, we remain... Our structure is...” de la Rosa said when asked by Sky Sports F1 presenter Natalie Pinkham whether Aston Martin is looking to bring in “someone like Jonathan as a team principal”.

“We're happy with what we have, you know? And how we have organised the team. And Adrian being the team principal, but he's more than a team principal, he's actually a managing technical partner. So, that's going to remain the same.

“I mean, Jonathan has left. I mean, we really shouldn't comment on things that are happening. We don't know why he has left. We don't know, you know, the situation, really. We all know. And the only thing we know, really, is that we have a team principal, and it's Adrian Newey, you know? And that will remain unchanged, you know?

“We have to believe in our structure and not change it anymore.”

It is understood that Wheatley, who only joined Audi 12 months ago after leaving Red Bull as sporting director at the end of 2024, would have to serve a period of gardening leave before he would be free to join a rival F1 team.

When pushed further on whether Wheatley would join at some stage, de la Rosa replied: “Well, not for the time being, you know? I mean, it's just...

“We shouldn't comment on rumours and speculation. Because we have to be respectful as well for what Jonathan wants to do in the future.”