Jonathan Wheatley’s Powerful Secrets Drive Sauber F1’s Revival

Jonathan Wheatley’s arrival as team principal at Sauber F1 has brought immediate changes that are drawing attention up and down the Formula 1 paddock. After joining the team last month, Wheatley—who was sporting director at Red Bull Racing—has already begun to apply his experience from one of the grid’s most dominant teams.

Both Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg said this week that they see the team “making progress” as they prepare for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola.

Wheatley took charge in April and now leads Sauber alongside Mattia Binotto, the chief operating and technical officer. The duo is responsible for overseeing Sauber’s development as it prepares to become Audi’s official works entry in 2026.

Currently, Sauber is struggling near the bottom of the championship tables again, matching its position from last season, but players inside the team are beginning to sense a change. Hulkenberg explained ahead of this weekend’s race that the paddock at Hinwil is “happy and listening” to Wheatley, calling his insights “powerful and valuable.”

He pointed to Wheatley’s inside knowledge from his Red Bull tenure, the team behind multiple world championships, as a key asset in this rebuilding year.

One clear improvement came in the pits last weekend in Miami. Back at Red Bull, Wheatley helped engineer the quickest pitstop strategies on the grid.

Now, Sauber posted the fastest pitstop during the Miami Grand Prix, completing a tire change on Bortoleto’s car in just 2.24 seconds on lap 19. Bortoleto credited both Wheatley and Binotto with the newfound speed, highlighting the team’s efforts and calling the result a “clear improvement” that fans might not fully appreciate yet.

He believes that big progress is being made behind the scenes, even if it isn’t always reflected in the race results.

Pitstop speed is only part of the formula for moving up the grid, though. Both drivers agreed that Sauber still needs to unlock more pace in qualifying and racing to see lasting results.

Bortoleto said that while Wheatley is a major asset, he isn’t a “silver bullet” who can change Sauber’s fortunes in a matter of weeks. He compared the situation to other leading teams, noting that except for Brawn GP’s shock title in 2009, most championship teams needed time to build their success.

As a rookie, he knows patience is needed in F1.

Hulkenberg echoed those ideas, explaining that the team remains aware of its current limits but “is pushing and working to push our limits” every day at the track and factory.

Both drivers believe Wheatley’s winning mentality and strategic approach are helping to steer Sauber in a new direction, even if the biggest gains are yet to come.

With the 2025 season approaching its mid-point, the team is working to turn small wins—like better pitstops—into bigger results in qualifying and on Sundays.

Sauber’s focus now shifts to Imola, where Wheatley’s leadership and Red Bull secrets will continue to shape the team’s approach.

As they prepare for an Audi-branded future, the foundation being laid today could prove valuable over the next several seasons.

Fans and insiders alike will be watching closely to see how Sauber’s progress unfolds as the calendar moves through Europe.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.