Alfa Romeo recruit new Head of Aero from Ferrari

Alfa Romeo’s technical department is set to return to full strength with the news Alessandro Cinelli will take on the role of Head of Aerodynamics, joining from Ferrari.

When it became clear Simone Resta would leave his role as Technical Director at Alfa Romeo at the end of the month, with the Italian expected to return to Ferrari, Alfa opted to promote their incumbent Head of Aerodynamics Jan Monchaux as a replacement, leaving that role vacant.

And ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, the Swiss team have announced the appointment of Cinelli, who had risen to Head of Aero Experiment Group at the Scuderia after a 17-year stint with the outfit.

Cincelli, who began his F1 career with Tyrrell and also worked at Williams, will begin work at Hinwil on August 19.

“I am delighted to welcome Alessandro to Sauber Motorsport and Alfa Romeo Racing,” said Alfa Romeo Team Prinicpal Frederic Vasseur.

“He joins a strong aerodynamics team and we are eager to see them continue the good work that was done so far. The recent appointments show how we continue to strengthen our structures and represent an evolution, rather than a revolution, of the system that has helped us progress in recent years.”

Cinelli added: “I join this young team with the mission to build on the solid foundations that have already been laid and to help produce results on track. I am confident we can continue on the right direction and bring even more success to the team.”

Alfa Romeo are currently ninth in the constructors’ championship, level on points with Haas and 16 adrift of fifth-placed Toro Rosso.