(Motorsport-Total.com) – Former Formula 1 driver and current Sky Sports expert Martin Brundle believes that signing Jonathan Wheatley as team principal would be a “smart move” for Aston Martin, but at the same time warns that the team must stabilize its management structure.
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“They’ve had a real revolving door in management at Aston Martin, haven’t they? And I think they’ve made some strange decisions about who does what and who’s in charge,” Brundle recalls in a conversation with Sky UK, referring to the numerous changes in the team principal position.
Because Otmar Szafnauer was followed by Mike Krack, who in turn was replaced by Andy Cowell. Since the beginning of the year, Adrian Newey has been in the role of team principal, which he will now step down from again. “To be honest, it’s quite curious when you watch it from the outside and know some of the people involved,” says Brundle.
Although there have already been initial rumors and speculation, it has still not been officially confirmed whether Jonathan Wheatley will actually become the new team principal at Aston Martin after his departure from Audi. But “I assume so, yes,” the Sky expert is convinced.
Martin Brundle: Wheatley will end up at Aston Martin
“Jonathan is a friend of mine, but he doesn’t want to talk about it at the moment because he probably can’t,” the former Formula 1 driver adds. “I don’t think he would have given up the Audi project and moving his family to Switzerland and all that lightly.”
Spectacular team principal changes in Formula 1
“So let’s assume that once the negotiations or the gardening leave phase or whatever is at play here are concluded, he will end up at Aston Martin.” Brundle is also of the opinion that a move for Wheatley would make sense for Aston Martin.
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“Adrian Newey obviously still knows him incredibly well from the Red Bull days,” the Brit recalls. “And I think Jonathan’s pragmatism and his hands-on approach would hold some things together there. I think that would be a smart move.”
“It’s not something I’ve heard directly from him, but maybe a return to the UK and paying taxes appeals to him,” Brundle says with a laugh. Wheatley is said not to have felt comfortable in his new home in Switzerland. “But yes, it’s an interesting development.”
Aston Martin “like a Premier League football team”
“To be honest, I didn’t see that coming with Jonathan, although in Melbourne I was actually told twice that exactly that was going to happen. Jonathan would be a good catch for them. But they need to settle down and just stick to one line for once.”
“At the moment they look like a Premier League football team that is constantly changing who is in charge,” the Sky expert emphasizes, joining the criticism of TV expert Will Buxton, who had spoken in similar tones about the struggling Formula 1 team a few weeks ago.
“And what happens then?” Brundle asks mischievously. “Everyone in the team takes cover and keeps their head down because they don’t know what’s going to happen next, who they’re reporting to, what the strategy is, or anything like that. It’s a really difficult situation for them overall.”
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