Two Formula 1 teams make leadership changes
20th March 2026Two Formula 1 teams are set to make leadership changes between the Chinese and Japanese Grand Prix, after two rounds of the 2026 championship season.
Feature image credit: Mercedes F1
After only two rounds of the 2026 season, both Mercedes and Audi are set to make changes to their senior management positions, with Bradley Lord to become Deputy Team Principal at Mercedes, whilst Jonathan Wheatley is to leave Audi.
Both announcements came on Friday, March 20, with Mercedes making their announcement first.
Lord is expected to support the current team principal and CEO, Toto Wolff, and help strengthen the organisation after a strong start to the new regulations. The Mercedes’ man will step up to the position immediately.
“With the growth of our team and F1, the scope of our operations and associated responsibilities at a senior level has grown significantly,” said Wolff.
“We have therefore taken this opportunity to put in place a change that has effectively been operating in practice for some time.
“While my role and overall responsibilities will not change one millimetre, Bradley’s work as Deputy Team Principal will further enhance the capability of our leadership group and provide continued support for me as our Team Principal and CEO.”
Further down the grid, Audi is set to make a change to their team principal after their first two races in the sport. Former Red Bull man and now Audi Team Principal, Wheatley, has been announced to step down from Audi’s role with immediate effect.
The team cited this announcement was ‘due to personal reasons,’ and former Ferrari team principal, Mattia Binotto, the head of the Audi F1 Project, is set to take over and soak up the additional responsibilities of Team Principal.
Reports suggest that Wheatley is expected to head to Aston Martin’s F1 team and replace Adrian Newey as their new Team Principal. However, Aston Martin has recently posted on social media of Lawrence Stroll’s desire not to comment on speculation and rumours regarding their current Team Principal, Newey.
An update from Lawrence Stroll. pic.twitter.com/wLtZ0ZZpV0
— Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) March 20, 2026
Formula 1 will return next weekend with the Japanese Grand Prix before it takes a five-week break over April, following the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian cancellations.
Read more Formula 1 here:
- The Writer’s Verdict: Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GP cancellations
- The Writer’s Verdict: 2026 Chinese Grand Prix
- Kimi Antonelli takes maiden win at Chinese Grand Prix
- Formula 1 confirm cancellation of Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
- Kimi Antonelli becomes youngest pole sitter ahead of Chinese Grand Prix
- 2026 Chinese Grand Prix – Sprint Race results
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
