Red Bull have confirmed the departure of the team’s Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley will leave the team to take a position as Team Principal at Audi’s planned team.
Wheatley, 57, will leave Red Bull after 18 years with the Milton Keynes-based team at the end of the 2024 season, before starting work with Audi after a period of gardening leave. The two teams have not publicly stated when Wheatley will start with Audi, with his future team saying he is to start there by July 2025.
The move is part of a reshuffle at the Audi project, which has seen former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto recently confirmed as the team’s new Chief Operating Officer and Technical Officer. Former higher-ups Andreas Siedl and Oliver Hoffmann were confirmed as leaving last week.
The German motor manufacturer is taking over the Sauber team, with the team to race as Audi from 2026.
Audi have said the structure of their Sauber operation will see Binotto run as an operational manager out of the team’s base in Switzerland and oversee technical development of the race cars, while Wheatley will work on managing the team at races and as a Team Principal representative.
Wheatley had joined Red Bull in 2006, leaving the Chief Mechanic role at Renault just after they had won the 2005 Drivers and Constructors championships.
The Briton joined Red Bull as a Team Manager, before gaining the title of Sporting Director in 2018.
He has been involved in Red Bull for all of their championships, with the team winning six Drivers and seven Constructors Championship titles, including the last 3 Drivers and 2 Constructors prizes.
The Milton Keynes-based team currently lead both championships after 14 races of the current F1 season, which is currently on a summer break.
Wheatley is the second noteworthy figure to leave Red Bull, with the team’s Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey announcing his departure after 17 years with the team in May. It is as yet unknown where he is intending to move to after leaving Red Bull, which will happen by March 2025.
In a statement, Red Bull’s Team Principal and CEO Christian Horner paid tribute to Wheatley and said that the team will now look to reshuffle the team’s structure.
He said, “It has been a long and successful relationship with Jonathan, over 18 years. His contribution to six World Constructors’ Titles and seven World Drivers’ Championship, first as Team Manager and latterly Sporting Director will forever be a marker in our Team history.
“Jonathan will remain in his position until the end of the 2024 season, as the Team seek to defend both our World Drivers’ and World Constructors’ Titles successfully. A period of gardening leave will follow in 2025.
“Everyone at Oracle Red Bull Racing and Red Bull Technology wish him all the best in his new role and would like to place our thanks to Jonathan. Red Bull Racing have tremendous strength and depth and this provides opportunity to elevate others within the Team. We will announce a new Team structure in the coming weeks.”
In a statement published by Audi, Wheatley said he was proud of his work with Red Bull but was excited to take the task of helping Audi launch their first ever Formula One team.
He said, “I am extremely proud to have been a part of the Red Bull Racing journey over the last eighteen years and will leave with many fond memories. However, the opportunity to play an active part in Audi’s entry into Formula 1 as head of a factory team is a uniquely exciting prospect, and I am looking forward to the challenge. Also I am glad to be working together with Mattia, whom I have known for many years and who is the right person to collaborate with in this exciting project.“
Travel advice has been published ahead of the Reggae Land Festival at the National Bowl in Milton Keynes this weekend.
A two day festival celebrating reggae music and culture will take place on Saturday 3rd August and Sunday 4th August at the music venue, which previously held the festival last year.
In preparation for the event taking place, advice has been published for festival goers regarding what to expect.
Due to the high volume of vehicular traffic heading to the venue and volumes of pedestrian traffic at the egress stage, a series of road closures, diversions, temporary speed restrictions and waiting restrictions will be in place around the site footprint to facilitate safe access and egress of patrons to the event and to mitigate delays on the highway network.
People driving to the venue are advised to follow the ‘Concert at MK Bowl’ yellow signs as you approach the venue, to ignore your sat-nav where necessary and allow extra time for your journey.
Road closures for the event will see Watling Street, Chaffron Way and Grafton Street will be closed for 9am Saturday 3 to 3am Sunday 4 August and 9am Sunday 4 to 3am Monday 5 August in areas immediately around the National Bowl.
For car parking, a number of official event car parks providing public parking in the immediate vicinity of the Bowl. Spaces can only be guaranteed by advance booking at the charge of £25 cars/minibuses/blue badge holders and £75 coaches. All bookings are subject to a booking fee and must be made via
https://parkthecarhere.com
Car parks are open from 10:00 and close at 02:00, while there is no overnight parking available and any vehicle left in car parks after the closure time will be removed at the owner’s expense.
Parking will be on grass and is therefore subject to weather conditions, while as this is a green field event, there are no EV charging points available on site.
The designated accessible car park is located in the East Car Park (Orange) What3words reference trash.watched.remaining, while drivers are advised to follow ‘Concert at MK Bowl Parking’ signage for the specific car park booked.
Parking on the day will be subject to availability, while drivers are advised to use car parks provided as parking enforcement will be operational during the event. Residential areas will be protected and illegally parked cars are at risk of being towed away.
Additional paid parking is available in Milton Keynes City Centre, with the most convenient located near to Milton Keynes Central Railway Station which connects to the pedestrian cycleway Redway system, a 25-30 minute signposted walk to the venue.
‘No Waiting’ restrictions will be in place on the roadways surrounding the Bowl and no drop offs will be permitted. There are two official Drop Off and Pick Up Facilities.
The official Taxi Rank Drop Off and Pick Up facility is located on Chesney Wold, which will be subject to a one-way system with entry from Summerson Road. Postcode is MK6 1NE, while What3words reference is grief.sunroof.painted.
Meanwhile, a Private Hire, Family & Friends Drop Off & Pick Up point is located on Kelvin Drive. Postcode is MK5 8NH, while What3words reference is basket.skirt.ambitions.
Big Green Coach is operating return coach travel from Bedford, Birmingham, Coventry, London King’s Cross, Luton, Northampton, Peterborough and Stevenage, and places can be booked by visiting the Big Green Coach website. All coaches will parked on the Orange (East) car park with easy access into Gate 6.
Cycle parking is available at the Green Car Park (Car Park A) and will be in a secure location stewarded throughout event times.
The nearest railway station is Milton Keynes Central with services operated by Avanti West Coast and London Northwest Railway. From Milton Keynes Central railway station, people can exit right and walk for 50 metres before turning right on to a footbridge over the railway line. This is pedestrian cycleway Redway system “Leisure Route 51” and a 25-30 minute (just over one mile) and will be signposted with event signage to the Bowl.
Anyone travelling by train is advised that the return journey to the rail station may take longer due to the number of concertgoers exiting the venue at the same time. Patrons using rail transport are reminded that it is their responsibility to allow enough time to make the necessary rail connections when leaving the venue.
No local buses directly serve The National Bowl site, but services 8/8A and service 4 operate to adjacent streets. Additionally, a number of services operate from Station Square adjacent to Milton Keynes Central railway station from where the redway Leisure Route 51 can be used to access the Bowl.
Police are appealing for witnesses following a robbery that happened in Bletchley.
The incident happened at approximately 8.30pm on Monday (29/7) on Queensway towards Leon Recreational Ground Park in Bletchley.
The victim, who was a 27-year-old man, was walking along when he was approached by a man who threatened him with a knife, before stealing a gold ring.
Thames Valley Police said that the victim did not sustain any injuries from the incident.
In their appeal, the offender was described as a man in his early twenties, around 5ft 8 tall with a slim build and a beard. At the time of the incident it is believed he was wearing a black hoody and black shoes.
Police Staff Investigator Jayde Smith, based at Milton Keynes Police Station, said, “We are carrying out an investigation following this concerning incident.
“We are undertaking a number of enquiries and reassurance patrols, so members of the public will see an increased police presence in the area.
“I am appealing to anybody who was in or lives in the area or nearby roads between 7.45pm and 8.45pm on Monday to please check your dashcam, video doorbell or CCTV footage and contact Thames Valley Police if it has captured the incident.
“You can contact us by making a report online or by calling 101, quoting reference 43240363560.
“Alternatively, for 100% anonymity, you can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
The Hub in Milton Keynes will welcome a restaurant tour to take place in October.
The Restaurant Tour is making its debut in Milton Keynes on Sunday 6th October, running from 12pm to 5pm at The Hub Milton Keynes. This event is structured to offer an opportunity for local foodies to explore six well-regarded restaurants covering a wide variety of cuisines.
Participating restaurants include Maaya, Blossom Room, Veeno, Fabrice, and The Oligarch and Moxy Hotel, which are all located within walking distance at The Hub Milton Keynes.
The promoters have previously run similar events in Birmingham and Liverpool, with further events also planned in Brighton, Bristol and Manchester.
Alongside this will be their first run in Milton Keynes, which will be for those who buy one of just 250 tickets available.
Each restaurant will showcase their signature dish, paired with a 125ml drink, giving guests a tantalising snapshot of the local culinary scene.
An app will guide attendees for their trip, offering insights into each restaurant and their offerings.
More information is available from the Restaurant Tour website, including information on purchasing tickets.
Police is appealing for witnesses following an incident of a man exposing himself in Milton Keynes.
The incident happened at around 5.55pm on Monday 22 July on Mill End in Wolverton.
During the incident, a woman walked past a small light blue car, with the driver’s door ajar.
Within the car, a man was touching himself inappropriately while holding a mobile phone.
The offender is described by Thames Valley Police in their incident report as a white man wearing mirrored sunglasses, jeans and T-shirt. He had short straight brown hair and appeared to be in his thirties, of slim/small build and average height.
Investigating officer PC Rebekah Huggins lead the appeal by saying, “This is entirely inappropriate behaviour and we are investigating the circumstances.
“If you have information on this incident we would ask you to please provide it on our online page, quoting reference 43240350924, or by calling 101 quoting the same reference.”
