Alpine bolster leadership team as they name new Deputy Technical Director

Alpine have announced the appointment of Jason Somerville as their new Deputy Technical Director, in a move that further strengthens the team’s technical leadership group.

Somerville was previously a key member of the Enstone-based operation’s Aerodynamics Department between 2010 and 2011, when they competed under the Renault name.

He first worked in F1 with Williams in 1999, before joining Toyota in 2003, where he went on to become Deputy Head of Aerodynamics.

Following his two-year stint at Enstone, Somerville returned to Williams to lead their Aerodynamics Department, before working for Formula One Management and helping to develop the 2022 technical regulations. He later moved to the FIA in 2022 as Head of Aerodynamics.

Somerville began his role at Alpine on Friday (May 15), reporting to Executive Technical Director David Sanchez.

“I am really excited to be returning to Enstone and working with Flavio [Briatore, Alpine Executive Advisor], Steve [Nielsen, Alpine Managing Director], and David in this new role,” said Somerville.

“I have been away from the competitive side of motorsport within a team environment for a few years now and I’m relishing the opportunity to be back in the thick of it, hunting milliseconds and fighting our rivals for points and hopefully silverware.

“I am looking forward to getting underway and joining the superb team of engineers, designers, and aerodynamicists at the factory and hopefully contributing to some of the team’s success in the not too distant future.”

Sanchez added: “We are thrilled to have someone of Jason’s calibre and experience joining the team and to continue our sustained level of progress.

“The work the team has already done this season has been extraordinary, but we all know that is just the beginning of the job and not one team member is resting on their laurels.

“Adding Jason to our technical team will allow us to take even further steps to better our performance in the latest Formula 1 development race.”

After finishing last in the 2025 Teams’ Championship, Alpine have made a strong start to the 2026 season and F1’s latest ruleset – scoring 23 points across the first four rounds to sit a much-improved fifth in the standings.