Red Bull Allows Jonathan Wheatley Early Move to Sauber

Red Bull has approved an earlier start date for Jonathan Wheatley as the new team principal of Sauber, allowing him to join the team on April 1 instead of July 2025. This decision follows Wheatley's long tenure as Red Bull's sporting director, which included overseeing Max Verstappen's fourth Drivers' title during the 2024 season. In preparation for Wheatley's arrival, Sauber has announced the departure of Alessandro Alunni Bravi, who has been with the team since 2017. Meanwhile, Will Courtenay, McLaren's newly appointed sporting director, will remain with Red Bull through the 2025 season despite expectations for an earlier transition. Red Bull's move to retain Courtenay highlights their strategy to maintain stability in their operations. Sauber's CEO Mattia Binotto is expected to fill the gap until Wheatley's official start, reflecting a period of significant changes within the team.