Former Ferrari strategy chief Iñaki Rueda could become Audi team principal. Iñaki Rueda, former Ferrari strategy chief, may take the helm at Audi as team principal.

In recent days, Aston Martin and Audi have delivered some surprises to the Formula 1 world. Initially, it seemed that Adrian Newey would step down as team principal in favor of Jonathan Wheatley, but the Silverstone team quickly denied the news. At the same time, reports from Switzerland confirmed that the current team principal would leave for personal reasons, leaving Mattia Binotto in the position until a replacement is appointed. The timing appears suspicious, particularly amid a deep crisis at Stroll’s team: the car that was expected to be a revelation in the championship has instead become a backmarker, with drivers struggling just to finish races.

It’s almost strange to see Adrian Newey “fail” at something, but the truth is he accepted the team principal role due to a lack of other qualified names. From the moment his appointment was announced, it was clear that his tenure would be short, and evidently, concentrating multiple roles hasn’t benefited the AMR26 project. A figure like Jonathan Wheatley would bring seriousness and expertise to a team facing more political than sporting issues, but the question remains: who will lead Audi?

Mattia Binotto has years of experience in the sector, but after the “burn” from Ferrari, he probably won’t remain in the role for long. According to The Race, however, the Italian could position his right-hand man to take over: Iñaki Rueda. Fans of the Scuderia Ferrari team know the name well, as he served as head of strategy from 2014 to 2023. Since 2024, he has been Audi’s sporting director, possibly appointed by Mattia Binotto himself, and this promotion would be a natural next step for him. “They’ll have to teach him to talk less, because he’s always been an engaging person to discuss with, but Audi tends to make everything as boring as possible,” added Scott Mitchell-Malm, journalist for the American publication.

The 2026 paddock is currently a whirlwind of management restructuring. While Aston Martin attempts to stabilize a sinking ship by potentially moving away from the Newey-centric leadership model, Audi appears to be leaning into the familiar Ferrari-era partnership of Mattia Binotto and Inaki Rueda. Based on the content of these recent reports, the official confirmation of Audi’s permanent leader could be the final piece of the puzzle.