Former FIA head of aerodynamics Jason Somerville has formally joined the Alpine Formulation 1 staff after finishing six months of gardening depart.
As first reported by Motorsport.com in November, Somerville agreed a deal to hitch Alpine after which served a six-month discover interval earlier than becoming a member of his new employer.
With that gardening depart interval having now concluded, throughout which Somerville was nonetheless energetic for the FIA however engaged on non-sensitive initiatives away from F1, the Briton has now began his new job on the Alpine F1 staff, taking over the newly-created position of deputy technical director, reporting into technical chief David Sanchez.
At Alpine Somerville is reunited with managing director Steve Nielsen, with the pair having labored alongside one another at each the FIA and F1 administration. Somerville served because the FIA’s head of aero since February 2022, becoming a member of from performing an analogous position at FOM. He beforehand accomplished stints within the aero departments of Williams, Toyota and Lotus.
“I’m actually excited to be returning to Enstone and dealing with Flavio, Steve, and David on this new position,” Somervile mentioned. “I’ve been away from the aggressive facet of motorsport inside a staff surroundings for just a few years now and I am relishing the chance to be again within the thick of it, looking milliseconds and combating our rivals for factors and hopefully silverware.
Jason Somerville, Alpine
Picture by: Alpine
“I’m wanting ahead to getting underway and becoming a member of the excellent staff of engineers, designers, and aerodynamicists on the manufacturing unit and hopefully contributing to a few of the staff’s success within the not too distant future.”
Because the FIA’s head of aero Somerville was one among a number of key individuals taking part in an essential half in defining F1’s new 2026 rules. Upon his resignation the FIA shared his earlier duties amongst numerous personnel, together with the FIA’s head of single-seaters Jan Monchaux. However it’s understood the governing physique has additionally made key recruitments in latest months to additional bolster its London-based aerodynamic staff.
Alpine has began the 2026 season on the entrance foot after dedicating all of final yr to its improvement plan for the brand new rules. After 4 rounds the Enstone-based staff occupies fifth place within the constructors’ standings because the main midfield outfit, with drivers Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto having mixed for 23 factors.
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