Wheatley leaves Audi to clear path to become Aston Martin team principal

• Jonathan Wheatley set to make switch to troubled team

• Aston Martin have had a disastrous start to the season

Jonathan Wheatley has left his role as Audi team principal with immediate effect, the Formula One team has confirmed, paving the way for his anticipated switch to the same role at Aston Martin.

Wheatley’s arrival would allow current Aston Martin principal, Adrian Newey, to return his focus to the technical and design areas in which he excels after the team endured a disastrous start to the new season.