Former Formula 1 driver Allan McNish has been appointed Racing Director of the Audi Formula One team, the team announced on Friday, April 24, 2026.
McNish, a three-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and former Toyota Formula 1 driver, will take up the role from the Miami Grand Prix onwards, overseeing sporting matters, engineering coordination, driver management, race strategy, garage operations, on-track media and partner activities.
The appointment follows the departure of Jonathan Wheatley as Team Principal just under a year after he joined the team, with Audi promoting from within its existing motorsport structure. McNish had previously served as Director of Coordination for Audi Group Motorsport and Team Principal of their Formula E project, most recently heading the Driver Development Programme, a role he will continue alongside his new responsibilities.
McNish made 17 entries for Toyota in the 2002 Formula One World Championship, scoring no points, and has been involved with Audi’s Formula 1 project from its inception. His endurance racing career includes victories at Le Mans in 1998, 2008 and 2013, as well as titles in the American Le Mans Series and the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2013.
Mattia Binotto, Audi’s CEO and Team Principal, praised McNish’s appointment, stating that he brings “an exceptional combination of racing experience, technical understanding and leadership” to the role and has been “a central part of the motorsport structure of Audi for many years.”
Audi entered the 2026 Formula One season as a factory team after taking over the Sauber outfit, marking their debut in the sport since the 1980s. The team has undergone a leadership evaluation following the turbulent start to their 2026 campaign.
McNish, born on 29 December 1969 in Dumfries, Scotland, holds a FIA Platinum racing licence and has worked as a co-commentator and pundit for BBC Formula One coverage. His new role places him in direct charge of trackside operations for the Audi F1 team as they seek to improve their performance in the 2026 season.