Steve Nielsen announced as Alpine Managing Director

Alpine have signed Steve Nielsen as their Managing Director to oversee the day-to-day running of the team, reporting to executive advisor Flavio Briatore.

The French manufacturer have been looking for a senior leader to manage the team on a daily basis following Oli Oakes’ departure from the Team Principal role in May.

Following weeks of talks, Nielsen – a well-respected member of the paddock – will leave his role as Chief Motorsports Operations Officer, Sporting, at commercial rights holder F1 to take up his new job on September 1, ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

Briatore, who has known Nielsen for decades, will continue to have overall responsibility for the project.

It marks a return to Enstone for Nielsen, who has spent multiple stints with the squad under the previous guises Benetton, Renault and Lotus, including as Sporting Director during the 2005 and 2006 World Championship winning years.

In recent years, Nielsen has spent time at F1 and governing body the FIA, and also has team experience from his time at Tyrrell, Honda, Toro Rosso and Arrows.

Alpine also confirmed the recent recruitment of Kris Midgley, who joined as Head of Aerodynamic Development.

Midgley, who reports to Executive Technical Director David Sanchez, previously worked at Enstone between 2007 and 2013 and most recently worked at Ferrari as Principal Aerodynamicist.

Alpine are currently bottom of the Teams' Championship on 11 points but are hoping to improve their fortunes next season when they switch to Mercedes power.