Lee Stevenson, Max Verstappen\u2019s former chief mechanic at Red Bull, has been appointed team manager of the new-look Audi F1 team.<\/p>\n
It comes after Audi completed its F1 2026 shakedown in Barcelona last week, becoming the first team to take to the track with its new car.<\/p>\n
Former Max Verstappen chief mechanic appointed Audi F1 team manager<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n Audi is preparing for its first season in F1 in 2026 after the German manufacturer completed its full takeover and rebrand of the Sauber team.<\/p>\n The team is being fronted by Jonathan Wheatley, who was appointed team principal in 2024 after a highly successful stint as Red Bull\u2019s sporting director.<\/p>\n Wheatley\u2019s move to Audi was announced after Stevenson linked up with Sauber earlier last year, initially arriving at Hinwil in the role of chief mechanic.<\/p>\n It has emerged ahead of the new season that Stevenson has been promoted to the role of team manager.<\/p>\n F1 2026: Formula 1\u2019s season of change<\/p>\n F1 2025 v F1 2026: Nine key questions ahead of huge regulation changes<\/a><\/p>\n F1\u2019s secret battleground revealed amid preparations for 2026 revolution<\/a><\/p>\n Stevenson\u2019s new position is likely to see him adopt many of the responsibilities held by Wheatley in his previous role at Red Bull, including overseeing Audi\u2019s race operations.<\/p>\n Wheatley was also widely credited for the standard-setting performance of the Red Bull pit crew, which is responsible for four of the five fastest pit stops in F1 history.<\/p>\n The record is currently held by McLaren, which required just 1.80 seconds to service Lando Norris\u2019s car at the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix.<\/p>\n Stevenson began his F1 career as a mechanic with Jordan \u2013 now competing under the banner of Aston Martin \u2013 in 2000 before moving to Red Bull in 2006.<\/p>\n He rose through the ranks to the role of chief mechanic in 2023, a season in which Red Bull won all but one of the 22 races as Verstappen stormed to a third consecutive world championship.<\/p>\n Stevenson started work with Sauber as chief mechanic in April 2024 before receiving a promotion as the team morphed into Audi.<\/p>\n As reported by PlanetF1.com last October<\/a>, Verstappen\u2019s number-one mechanic Matt Caller has also joined Audi ahead of the new season.<\/p>\n PlanetF1.com understands that Caller is to take Stevenson\u2019s previous role of chief mechanic.<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n