Sauber team boss Jonathan Wheatley has expressed full confidence in the latest generation of Formula 1 team leaders. Within a year, there have been significant changes at the top of the participating racing teams. The sudden dismissal of Christian Horner recently caused shifts in Red Bull’s leadership. Wheatley, former sporting director at Red Bull, assures that the new power dynamics will benefit Formula 1.
Wheatley joined Sauber in April after a long career at Red Bull. His former Benetton and Renault colleagues, Alan Permane and Steve Nielsen, assumed similar roles. With Laurent Mékies’ move to the main team, Permane was appointed team boss at Racing Bulls, while former Formula 1 and FIA executive Nielsen will take on a leading role at Flavio Briatore’s Alpine from September 1st.
Upon Permane’s promotion, Wheatley posted a photo of the duo from their Benetton days on social media. “We’ve come a long way,” he wrote. In a conversation with English Autosport.com, he responded to the post. “That photo popped up recently, so it was perfect timing,” said the Brit. “Alan had a very different hairstyle back then, and my hair was a different color,” he added with a laugh. “Alan is an established professional who knows what he’s doing. We share the same values, and after years of being on the circuit, he still has the same love and passion for Formula 1. That’s why I think his promotion was a very good move.”
Keeping Work and Personal Life Separate
“I’m very happy for him, and also for Laurent Mékies,” Wheatley continued. “I’m also looking forward to working with Steve Nielsen again. During my years in Formula 1, I’ve met some fantastic people. Once I make friends, I usually keep them for a long time. It’s just nice to have a group of people around you that you fully trust, because you’ve shared so many experiences together.”
According to Wheatley, this new generation of team bosses is only beneficial for Formula 1, especially when they come together during committee meetings. “We’ve all made it to the position of sporting director and now we’re all in a group of team bosses,” said the Sauber executive. “And that’s a fantastic and talented group of people.” The mutual respect is good for the future of the sport, but it doesn’t mean that the team bosses won’t defend the interests of their own teams. “We know how to separate our personal relationships from our professional relationships,” Wheatley emphasized. “At the same time, the interests of the sport are paramount and we focus on what’s best for Formula 1. I’m looking forward to those discussions.”
