Bernie Ecclestone has given his two cents on Jonathan Wheatley’s shock Formula 1 departure from Audi as rumors of Aston Martin appointment intensify.
The Silverstone-based team has endured a catastrophic start to the sport’s latest era.
Coming off the back of securing Adrian Newey’s services as Managing Technical Partner and Team Principal, and a works Honda engine deal, Lawrence Stroll was billing the British marque up for a championship push.
However, reality has bit Aston Martin’s hand hard. the AMR26 looks like a handful to drive, painfully low on power and with vibrations so persistently sharp.
Both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll haven’t been able to finish a Grand Prix distance lest having to live with the danger of permanent nerve damage.
Amid this, reports started to suggest that Stroll Sr. wanted to replace Newey as the team’s Principal with Wheatley cropping up as a prime candidate.
Having joined the Hinwil-based team mid-way through its transition from Sauber to Audi, the Briton has done a commendable job at its helm.
But the team announced earlier this week that Wheatley has left them with immediate effect owing to “personal reasons”.
Ecclestone calls reason for Jonathan Wheatley Audi departure “impossible”
Former F1 boss Ecclestone may have some light to shed on these personal reasons, dismissing Audi’s explanation for Wheatley’s sudden departure.
“That’s actually impossible,” he told Blick. “It would only make sense if he doesn’t like it in Switzerland and wants to go back to England.”
Stroll’s comments might turn out to be a window to the future, with the British marque employing Wheatley’s services whilst allowing Newey to re-focus his expertise into the technical aspects of Aston Martin’s F1 project.
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