Former FIA head of aerodynamics Jason Somerville has formally joined the Alpine System 1 workforce after finishing six months of gardening depart.
As first reported by Autosport in November, Somerville agreed a deal to affix 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 lively for the FIA however engaged on non-sensitive initiatives away from F1, the Briton has now began his new job on the Alpine F1 workforce, taking up 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 the same 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 stated. “I’ve been away from the aggressive aspect of motorsport inside a workforce surroundings for a number of years now and I am relishing the chance to be again within the thick of it, looking milliseconds and preventing our rivals for factors and hopefully silverware.
Jason Somerville, Alpine
Picture by: Alpine
“I’m trying ahead to getting underway and becoming a member of the very good workforce of engineers, designers, and aerodynamicists on the manufacturing facility and hopefully contributing to a few of the workforce’s success within the not too distant future.”
Because the FIA’s head of aero Somerville was one in all a number of key folks taking part in an necessary half in defining F1’s new 2026 laws. Upon his resignation the FIA shared his earlier duties amongst varied 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 workforce.
Alpine has began the 2026 season on the entrance foot after dedicating all of final 12 months to its growth plan for the brand new laws. After 4 rounds the Enstone-based workforce 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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